Renungkanlah....
From: Shifa L V Mustapha
To: Bronwyn.Bishop.MP@aph.gov.au
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 9:09 AM
Subject: Re: Headscarf Issue
To the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MPDear Ms. Bishop,
Title:The Muslim Headscarf
It was with sadness, and not a little disappointment, that I heard,then read, of your pronouncement regarding the Muslim Women'sheadscarf. It is most interesting that you, a woman, can bemanipulated to attack the position of other women - women who, nodoubt, have chosen a different mode of dress to that which youyourself wear, but who are, nevertheless, Australians loyal to allthat is prized by fair-dinkum Aussies. You have placed your own interpretations and judgment ahead of thosewho know why they have chosen this item of dress.
Believe me, Madam,those of us who have taken up the wearing of hijab (Muslim scarf),have not done so lightly. We are not boldly, wantonly wearing thehijab as a means to taunt people, we sincerely wear this as part ofour religious belief and a God-given right. We are not oppressed -one man came up to me in the street and said, "You are oppressed!". Ireplied that I was not oppressed, asking why he should jump to thisconclusion - "Because of that thing on your head," he stated. I explained that this "thing" on my head was something which I hadchosen, and went on to say, "If ever you see me without this, you will know that I am oppressed".
And that Madam is exactly how I feel. You have not spoken out against those who embrace nudity, or near-nudity (even though skin cancer will ultimately take its toll) ;nor yet of the huge number of our Australian young people who are battling the problems of drink and drugs; nor of the number of suicides among Australians who obviously feel that there is nothing left for them. Why is it that you are blinkered to all the negatives in this Australian era, yet feel it imperative to take away something which is representative of good? What exactly is Australian dress after all, other than the slavish following of others?
I well remember the phases of Australian dress - my own Grandmother wore hat and veil, modest long sleeves and long skirts.... much more in keeping with what is worn by Muslims. One doctor was heard to say on radio inthe early 90s that should the ozone layer continue to recede the time will come when all will have to "dress like Arabs" merely to survive -but that is another story is it not?
Dear Lady, I can only think that you, yourself, are in a state of serfdom. Frankly I think the Muslim hijab would look very well on you. Quite honestly, whether you think so or not - it is very dignified and lends itself to the enhancement of the position of women. That does not mean that we do not have equality, but rather our position in Islam is recognised as being in many instances, above that of man - it is no coincidence that the first Believer in Islam was a woman, nor yet that the first Martyr in Islam was a woman. It was said by the Prophet that "women are the twin souls of men" and further that "Paradise is under the feet of the mother". We have,Islamically, had rights of education, business acumen, ownership ofproperty, equity in payment of wages, choice of husband, as well as that of inheritance from the end of the 6th century - Britain only last century (20th) gave such rights to women.
No Ms. Bishop, we may wear our hijabs proudly, but not in defiance. May you think long and hard before oppressing us - we do not deserve such treatment. We are good Australians with excellent values.
Yours sincerely,Shifa L. Mustapha for and on behalf of Islamic Information Service of Cooloola, QLD.
*Shifa L Mustapha is the author of the book titled: In Quest of Truth.