With Egyptian parliament is drafting a law banning women from wearing the Burqa and veil at Public places including government institutions, the lawmakers are set to vote on banning women from wearing a full-face Islamic veil, local media reports.
The full-face veil is worn by some followers of Islam and typically covers all of the wearer’s face other than their eyes. The clothing is common in Egypt which is a predominantly Muslim country.
However in the wake of the increase in niqab wearers, Egypt has imposed a series of restrictions on wearing full-face veil in public.
MP Amna Nosseir, professor of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, who has backed the ban, said that wearing the veil is not a requirement of Islam and in fact has non-Islamic origins.
She has argued that it is a Jewish tradition which appeared in the Arabian Peninsula prior to Islam and that a variety of Quran passages contradict its use. Instead, she has advocated that the Quran calls for modest clothing and covered hair, but does not require facial covering.
Earlier this year, Cairo University was given court permission to ban female professors from wearing the niqab or burqa in the classrooms ruling it would prevent ‘entry of extremists and outsiders of the university.
If passed, the new law, Egypt would see ban on headscarves in universities and government buildings.