El Niqab

You probably know the story by now, right? I’m talking about some Very Important Sheik banning Egyptian chicks from covering up their faces.

(If you  haven’t got the slightliest idea of what I’m talking about, Ill try  not to judge you, and I hope this link helps : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8290606.stm )

So yeah, that has stirred a bit of a debate here lately. Personally, I couldn’t care less. Let the girl wear whatever she feels like wearing. I seriously cannot comprehend what’s the big deal.

I actually think Niqabs are great.

And here is why. Read on:

Isa's Top Five Wonderful Reasons to Keep You from Ditching the Veil

1- It blocks your sense of smell. - There are days that this reason alone would send anyone (Muslim or not) rushing to the nearest souk in search of a good thick niqab, two layers of flannel between your nostrils and Cairo’s air pollution and not so sweet smells of the streets.

2- You can move around incognito. Isn’t that fun?

3- No-one notices your spots, facial hair, moles or acne. - Yes, we (girls) are complicated like that. We’d rather stay locked in our rooms than face the world with an emerging yellowish spot or a suspicious shadow in the upper lip area that calls for immediate waxing. Covering up sounds like the perfect solution sometimes.

4- Stops diseases from spreading. - With all the health scares and paranoia around these days, one cannot cough or sneeze in public without getting some alarmed looks. Anyone down with the flu should cover his/her mouth and nose, and the veil works just fine for that purpose.

5-And most importantly: It is your right to wear whatever you feel comfortable with. And I really think that right shouldn’t be taken away.