Reem Island murder sparks social media debate on the niqab

ABU DHABI // A debate on whether the niqab should be worn in public has turned bitter on social media following the murder of an American schoolteacher and attempted murder of a doctor.

Last week an Emirati woman in full niqab allegedly stabbed Ibolya Ryan in the public toilets at the Boutik Mall on Reem Island an hour before heading to the home of an American-Egyptian doctor to place a bomb on his doorstep.

Many Twitter users have expressed anger that the suspect used what they called a religious symbol to aid in the crime, but others are concerned that the full face veil has been increasingly abused. Some have even said they were afraid at the sight of a niqab.

A handful of members from the Federal National Council said the incident was not enough to call for a nationwide ban of the niqab, and all said that wearing it was a personal choice.

Ahmed Al Mansouri, a Dubai FNC member and political analyst and founder of the Crossroads of Civilisations Museum, said that even though the niqab was a cultural garment and held no religious significance in his opinion, wearing it was a personal choice that could not be denied.

“In Abu Dhabi, the face veil is associated with culture, not religion,” he said. “Some don’t want to admit it, but it is cultural.”

The full face veil was first adopted by high-society Moorish women in Andalus dating back to the 700s, he said, adding it has no historical Islamic relevance.

“We have to respect all religions,” he said. “Why should we stop people from expressing themselves? This was a single criminal act.”

Even though the suspect was wearing a niqab, police were able to capture the woman within 24 hours, he said.

Hamad Al Rahoomi, a Dubai FNC member, said the matter should go to religious scholars.

“Some people believe it’s mandatory in religion, some don’t,” he said. “I cannot preach on this. It is an isolated incident the actions of which cannot be generalised.”

He added that religion was a “sensitive” issue to discuss and the matter should be dealt with by Muslim scholars.

Almost half of the FNC’s female members, however, suggested taking precautionary measures to avoid a re-occurrence of that type of incident.

Dr Mona Al Bahar, also a Dubai member and a sociologist, said the UAE should not suffer from one person’s wrongdoing. She said that the public should not ponder on how the niqab was abused, but how such a crime could happen and the shock that it was perpetrated by a UAE national.

“Yes it tainted the image of the niqab,” she said. “There can be measurements to ensure it doesn’t happen again,”

She suggested a possible check at mall entrances of veiled women to prove their identity.

Noura Al Kaabi, member for Abu Dhabi and chief executive of media hub twofour54, agreed, and said the murder, which has been called the “niqab crime” by many, should be stripped of any connection to Islam, which is a tolerant religion.

She said banning the niqab would be “extreme” and spark a debate on freedom, adding safety measures could be studied while recognising the freedom of others.

Aisha Al Yammahi, a Fujraiah member, said the tradition of wearing a niqab was one that has been passed on “from grandmothers to mothers” and it was a personal one.

But she did not object to the idea of introducing additional safety measures in public.

“In the end this is for security forces to decide, whether they think they need to takes measures or not.”

osalem@thenational.ae