Manchester Evening News (City Edition)
Article 1
Headline: Life - from both sides of the veil
Section: Features
Written by: Shelina Begum
Page: 9
Outline: This feature takes up three quarters of page 9 and is dedicated to the "debate" about the Burka or the all ecompassing veil that some Muslim Women choose to wear. The headline paragraph makes reference to the North West MEP Chris Davies' comments regarding the Burka and also to French President Sarkozy who started this "debate". It sets out the premise for the feature which aims to speak to "....four Muslim women from Greater Manchester to find out their views".
The feature is split into 2 sections with the headings "Choosing to cover up" and "And those who don't".
Two Photos are featured, one of them is of 2 women who choose to wear the Burka and a smaller photo is of Councillor Maryam Khan who doesn't wear the Burka or a headscarf, it also features a caption from her which reads
"There is so much misconception about women who wear the veil. I don't know anybody who is being oppressed"
The section focusing on the women who choose to wear the Burka details some of the problems they face as a result of their choice, for example one woman named as Nasima Sheikh comments on anti Burka sentiment and states that "It's bad enough I face abuse from people on the streets for my choice of clothing. Young white lads regularly call me 'ninja' and now this criticism will give them even more ammunition to point their finger at me".
There are comments from another woman named as Nazma Khatun who describes her reasons for wearing the Burka and quotes her as saying "..The burka makes me feel comfortable and has never stopped me from studying, getting a job and fitting in". Ms Khatun also comments that whilst she feels Greater Manchester is tolerant her sister has had to remove her Burka in Blackpool because of "...daily threats..." being received by her family.
The second section starts with a woman called Saira Younas who comments that whilst other members of her family wear the hijab (headscarf) she doesn't and hasn't been forced to. She is quoted as describing the Burka as "...a step too far. The Koran does not state that you have to cover your face....But if a woman chooses to do this then it is their choice, like it is mine not to cover my hair or my face".
The feature finishes with comments by Maryam Khan whose photo is also featured in the article. She is described as "...Manchester's youngest councillor..."
A comment from her is provided in the article which states that "Islam gives women a choice about whether they want to wear the hijab or burka and I have chosen not to...However I really do admire the women who do. It shows great courage in a climate where there is so much hostility. I know I don't have the courage to do the same...There is much misunderstanding about women who wear the veil. There may be a small minority forced to wear it but don't personally know of anybody who is oppressed"
The closing statement by Councillor Maryam Khan is in my opinion the most powerful statement of the article
"It comes down to choice and women should have the right to wear what they want"
I know that I have recreated large chunks of the feature as part of this analysis but I felt that all were necessary to include as they show why this feature is so positive.
Shelina Begum deserves credit for telling the untold story with regards to the Hijab and Burka i.e. the women who wear it and those Muslim women who don't. As is often the case with "debates" regarding Islamic matters we are consistently bombarded with the view of the Politician or Fringe Muslims or Neo Con think tanks each banging on about their particular angle on the story and more often than not this viewpoint leaves the audience with a negative outlook on Islam and Muslims.
Shelina Begum's feature presents a much needed human face to the "debate" about Burka and allows readers to get the view from the inside track. It is enlightening as contrary to what people may think they get to see the strong and confident voices of the women who wear the Burka who debunk the myth that they are somehow oppressed. It actually highlights that the one form of oppression they do face is racism not subservience to their menfolk.
Also with regards to the non-Burka wearing Muslim Women it doesn't present them as opposed to the choice made by their "sisters" but rather re-affirms the true democratic principle of choice.
The decision to end with Maryam Khan's quote is the best part of the article as it probably sums up the feelings of Muslim women across Britain who choose to wear a Burka. We often go on about the right/freedom to choose, this feature is re-affirming that democratic message that let women choose to wear the Burka go about their business free from scrutiny or ridicule.
Excellent feature by Shelina Begum and I guess the M.E.N does deserve a cursory knod of approval for placing the feature prominently towards the front of the paper.
Article Verdict: Positive
Article 1
Headline: Life - from both sides of the veil
Section: Features
Written by: Shelina Begum
Page: 9
Outline: This feature takes up three quarters of page 9 and is dedicated to the "debate" about the Burka or the all ecompassing veil that some Muslim Women choose to wear. The headline paragraph makes reference to the North West MEP Chris Davies' comments regarding the Burka and also to French President Sarkozy who started this "debate". It sets out the premise for the feature which aims to speak to "....four Muslim women from Greater Manchester to find out their views".
The feature is split into 2 sections with the headings "Choosing to cover up" and "And those who don't".
Two Photos are featured, one of them is of 2 women who choose to wear the Burka and a smaller photo is of Councillor Maryam Khan who doesn't wear the Burka or a headscarf, it also features a caption from her which reads
"There is so much misconception about women who wear the veil. I don't know anybody who is being oppressed"
The section focusing on the women who choose to wear the Burka details some of the problems they face as a result of their choice, for example one woman named as Nasima Sheikh comments on anti Burka sentiment and states that "It's bad enough I face abuse from people on the streets for my choice of clothing. Young white lads regularly call me 'ninja' and now this criticism will give them even more ammunition to point their finger at me".
There are comments from another woman named as Nazma Khatun who describes her reasons for wearing the Burka and quotes her as saying "..The burka makes me feel comfortable and has never stopped me from studying, getting a job and fitting in". Ms Khatun also comments that whilst she feels Greater Manchester is tolerant her sister has had to remove her Burka in Blackpool because of "...daily threats..." being received by her family.
The second section starts with a woman called Saira Younas who comments that whilst other members of her family wear the hijab (headscarf) she doesn't and hasn't been forced to. She is quoted as describing the Burka as "...a step too far. The Koran does not state that you have to cover your face....But if a woman chooses to do this then it is their choice, like it is mine not to cover my hair or my face".
The feature finishes with comments by Maryam Khan whose photo is also featured in the article. She is described as "...Manchester's youngest councillor..."
A comment from her is provided in the article which states that "Islam gives women a choice about whether they want to wear the hijab or burka and I have chosen not to...However I really do admire the women who do. It shows great courage in a climate where there is so much hostility. I know I don't have the courage to do the same...There is much misunderstanding about women who wear the veil. There may be a small minority forced to wear it but don't personally know of anybody who is oppressed"
The closing statement by Councillor Maryam Khan is in my opinion the most powerful statement of the article
"It comes down to choice and women should have the right to wear what they want"
I know that I have recreated large chunks of the feature as part of this analysis but I felt that all were necessary to include as they show why this feature is so positive.
Shelina Begum deserves credit for telling the untold story with regards to the Hijab and Burka i.e. the women who wear it and those Muslim women who don't. As is often the case with "debates" regarding Islamic matters we are consistently bombarded with the view of the Politician or Fringe Muslims or Neo Con think tanks each banging on about their particular angle on the story and more often than not this viewpoint leaves the audience with a negative outlook on Islam and Muslims.
Shelina Begum's feature presents a much needed human face to the "debate" about Burka and allows readers to get the view from the inside track. It is enlightening as contrary to what people may think they get to see the strong and confident voices of the women who wear the Burka who debunk the myth that they are somehow oppressed. It actually highlights that the one form of oppression they do face is racism not subservience to their menfolk.
Also with regards to the non-Burka wearing Muslim Women it doesn't present them as opposed to the choice made by their "sisters" but rather re-affirms the true democratic principle of choice.
The decision to end with Maryam Khan's quote is the best part of the article as it probably sums up the feelings of Muslim women across Britain who choose to wear a Burka. We often go on about the right/freedom to choose, this feature is re-affirming that democratic message that let women choose to wear the Burka go about their business free from scrutiny or ridicule.
Excellent feature by Shelina Begum and I guess the M.E.N does deserve a cursory knod of approval for placing the feature prominently towards the front of the paper.
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