I hope to make clear some points.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2002
I hope to make clear some points.
1
Mon, 06-18-2007 - 3:41pm
I don’t want give the impression to have it in for my religion and my country. There are positive things like the public order and welfare. I consider my duty to follow the precepts of Islam and as regards to Bahrain i must say that is different from near Saudi Arabia, Islam impose his rules and the interpretations is respectful but not stern so women have some rights. For example i can’t drive only because my veil but unlike Saudi Arabia women here are allowed to drive cars. I live in the city of Al Muharraq, a traditional arab town with narrow streets and little shops. Houses are simple, with 3-4 floors. The mentality of many people here is more conservative compared with the capital Al Manamah and that can explain the customs of my family. Some years ago i could vote and in that occasion i might to set myself apart with a woman to let her identify me. I remember the images of the elections in Afghanistan with these lines of burqas, here the situations is little different, there are some burqas but many women prefer the niqab, an integral veil that at least let the eyes uncovered, other women wear the chador or a simple headscarf, and there are some women dressed in the western way. There isn’t laws about veil, all depends from family traditions.
Regard my loneliness despite everything i have some friends but i haven’t many occasions to meet them, they wear the niqab and it’s impossible to meet each other in the street, sometimes we organize a meeting in the house of one of us when men are absent, otherwise we go out for shops or as i mentioned in the internet point to surf. I have the connection also at home but when i write to you i prefer to be outside. Since i live with my husband i have more freedom of movement as long as veiled, he’s less strict than my father and for that reason i wanted to marry him, if i have some valid arguments he’s more willing to listen to me. Anyway it’s a patriarchal society and a possible family controversy is often resolved by tribunals in favour of the husband. My daughter will be certainly all veiled but i hope that my husband allows her to wear the niqab, now she’s 10, too young for this. As for me i only obey my father and a long tradition, i don’t know if the burqa is a punishment or as i heard a portable prison, i know only that it’s my duty to wear it without a break, then there is people that could consider the sight of a woman’s face indecent and i myself by now i would feel naked with my face uncovered in public, 17 years of burqa-wearing work like a brainwash.
At work i have no particular limits in my teaching, i must only follow the program that i suppose it’s not too different from western countries. In my nursery-school teachers are all female and i depend on my directress.
A last oddness: sometimes i go with my family for a trip in Saudi Arabia, when we are on the border Saudi customs officers don’t ask me documents because in this country a woman that travel with a close male relative don’t need it, in practice for them i don’t exist and not only because i look like a ghost.
Aisha
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 9:04am

Thanks for the additional clarification.