inspired by lemmitors at https://lemmy.ml/post/49343381
any guy in it just for women to wear skimpier clothing should probably be investigated.
this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2026
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I'm from South Spain and here are living a lot of muslim immigrants. As you say, a lot of women which cover their hair and others not. Normally they cover their hair when they are married. But same asin some other countries, it's their decision, because religion or tradition to do it, when nobody is forcing to do it by drastic laws, like in some islamic theocracies where they don't have a choice.
In Iran the law was recently paused and because of this, naturally some women don't wear the hijab, but in other countries they are even forced to wear an burka without any liberty of choice. As said, it's different to have a choice or to be forced by others.
https://www.euronews.com/2024/12/18/iran-pauses-implementation-of-stricter-hijab-law-for-women
Yes in some places there are conservatives due to the way that colonialism and imperialism has impacted the world but as far as Iran goes, your quote shows that the people of Iran were sufficiently progressive to reject an attempt by some conservatives to push a conservative agenda. They were defeated in this attempt by the masses who are still overwhelmingly Muslim, but understand that the Quran says hijab is voluntary because it explicitly states religion cannot be compulsory.
No one here has defended it being compulsory, Muslims by and large are not pushing for it to be compulsory, and those that do are embodying a reactionary mindset imposed on them via colonialism and imperialism. Instead of focusing on what Muslims do and don't do it would be better to focus on ending capitalism so that people everywhere have more freedom from oppressive power structures, access to education and the ability to make decisions from a place of clarity and stability
this is the only point I am trying to make, that it is not inherent to the religion to compel hijab, which undermines the entire position of westerners who think it is compulsory. pointing out that there are non religious people and non muslims living their lives without fear of retribution drives the reality home that most people are choosing to veil because they are religious and personally want to, and not because of some threat of violence. they see people being good Muslims and want to emulate that out of devotion, not coercion.
while I agree with the benefits of wearing hijab for those who choose to, and I also understand how the imperialist and colonial powers are driving an anti-western sentiment that contributes to many clinging to hijab as something that should be compulsory as a defense against imperialist cultural hegemony, the desire to make anything compulsory for anyone else seems inherently conservative. Conservationism is often a natural defensive reaction from some external conditions, and even if it is understandable reaction to the legitimate enemy of the world it doesn't make it something I would personally agree with as the desired end goal. in the end it needs to be a personal decision or else the intention in the heart is impure and it is not legitimate submission to the will of Allah swt but a deception born of coercion.
Ahh ok I was talking about the idea that wsterners have of mandatory hijab enforced on citizens at large but it seems like you're specifically talking about the dress code requirements for state representatives ?