Part 1
‘They call me Muslim’ is a documentary about the necessity of Muslim girls and women to wear veils. A veil is a religious symbol that identifies Muslim girls and women, which is made mandatory in some cultures. A veil has been considered a symbol of bondage due to the attitudes that people hold towards Muslim women. The limitations they are given, especially in showing off their bodies and participating in certain activities makes the veil to prohibit them completely from the same. In as much as some women feel burdened by the need to wear a veil, others have no issues with it and consider it a way to express their religious standing (Muslim, 2006). The aspect of religion being defined by clothing rather than personal commitment has raised concerns with the thought that most women are forced to wear veils against their convictions.
Being born a Muslim does not necessarily make one a Muslim. The conviction to choose a particular religious believes comes after a person is mature enough to understand the beliefs that surround such a religion. In fact, many Muslims adhere to the dress conduct as required by their religion, yet live a secular life. Apart from the hijabs and the veils, there is nothing Muslim about them. Such women hence only wear hijabs and veils to please and satisfy those around them and at times to cover up their unreligious lifestyles. The sole reason why most Muslim girls do not understand the necessity of the veils made most schools in Iran to ban them. Such girls should be given the freedom of expression until when they are mature enough to understand the need of covering their heads.
Part 2
Matters pertaining to religion can be difficult to comprehend due to the different perspectives they are viewed. A culture that may appear right to a particular person may not necessarily be the same to another person. However, religion should never be defined by how a person dresses but rather what they believe. Once a person has a good understanding of their religion, that he or she will also understand why they need to behave or dress in a particular way. The issue of imposing a particular dress code upon children who do not understand why is, therefore, not right. The best approach is to instil the right teachings of religion on the children and then allow them to make their own decisions on how to behave or what to dress. Many grownups, today, subscribe to a particular religion simply because they were born it (Nazlee, 1996). They may not even see or even experience the aspect of Islam in their lives yet they are told to dress and behave in a particular way. When veils are worn out of compulsion rather than voluntarily, they become a symbol of bondage.
Most parents feel that by imposing a particular dress code upon their children, they simply are protective on them as well as making sure they are used to it. On the contrary, such efforts will be in vain if the parents do not make the children understand why they have to do so. Children tend to behave and compile when they are young, but as they grow up, they learn and realise that what they are told by their parents is contrary to the truth. Some of them will rebel on their parents knowing that they cannot trust them for truth. In such scenarios, wearing a veil becomes bondage. However, a girl who grows up with a veil and gets the right teachings will remain veiled as she understands the need for the veil.
References
Muslim, T. C. M. (2006). Diana Ferrero. DVD. A Women Make Movies Release.
Nazlee, S. (1996). Feminism and Muslim women. Ta-Ha Publishers.
