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Burqa

This article is about the Muslim cultural garment. For other uses, see Burka (disambiguation).
For the 2023 film, see Burqa (2023 film).
For the mask covering the eyebrows and upper lip used in Gulf countries, see Battoulah.

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Islamic female dress
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As a chadaree[a] (/ˈtʃæd(ə)riː/; Pashto: چادري) or chaadar (Dari: چادر) in Afghanistan, or a paranja (/ˈpærənˌdʒɑː/; Russian: паранджа́; Tatar: пәрәнҗә) in Central Asia, the Arab version of the burqa is called the boshiya and is usually black. The term burqa is sometimes conflated with the niqāb even though, in more precise usage, the niqab is a face veil that leaves the eyes uncovered, while a burqa covers the entire body from the top of the head to the ground, with a mesh screen which only allows the wearer to see in front of her.

The use of face veils has been documented in various ancient cultures, including the Byzantine Empire, Persia, Arabia, and ancient Palestine.[1] Historical sources mention women’s practices of face veiling. Additionally, Biblical references in Genesis highlight the use of veils, indicating their significance in the cultural traditions of these regions. Coptic Orthodox Christian women traditionally wore dark garments with veils, white for the unmarried and black for the married.[2]

Face veiling has not been regarded as a religious requirement by most Islamic scholars, either in the past or the present. While some interpret Quranic verses, such as 24:31 and 33:59, as encouraging modesty and security for women, most contemporary scholars agree that the burqa is not obligatory. For many women, wearing the burqa represents modesty, piety, and cultural identity, while others choose it as an expression of personal or religious commitment. A minority of scholars in the Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) consider it to be obligatory for Muslim women when they are in the presence of non-related (i.e., non-mahram) males. This is in order to prevent men from looking (perversely) at women. This aligns with the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, which requires men to observe modesty by lowering their gaze in the presence of women.

Women may wear the burqa for a number of reasons, including compulsion, as was the case during the Taliban's first rule of Afghanistan.[3] However, several countries have enacted full or partial bans on its use in public spaces. These include Austria, France, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria, the Netherlands (in public schools, hospitals and on public transport), Germany (partial bans in some states), Italy (in some localities), Spain (in some localities of Catalonia), Russia (in the Stavropol Krai),[4][5][6] Luxembourg,[7] Switzerland,[8] Norway (in nurseries, public schools and universities),[9] Canada (in the public workplace in Quebec),[10] Gabon, Chad, Senegal, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon (in some localities), Niger (in some localities),[11][12] Sri Lanka,[13] Tajikistan,[14] Azerbaijan (in public schools),[15] Turkey (in the judiciary, military and police),[16] Kosovo (in public schools),[17] Bosnia and Herzegovina (in courts and other legal institutions),[18] Morocco (ban on manufacturing, marketing and sale),[19] Tunisia (in public institutions),[20] Egypt (in universities), Algeria (in the public workplace),[21] and China (in Xinjiang).[22][23]


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  1. ^ See for instance F. R. C. Bagley, "Introduction", in B. Spuler, A History of the Muslim World. The Age of the Caliphs, 1995, X; for a different view T. Dawson, "Propriety, practicality and pleasure : the parameters of women's dress in Byzantium, A.D. 1000-1200", in L. Garland (ed.), Byzantine women: varieties of experience 800-1200, 2006, 41-76.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Budge1902 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Sullivan, Rory (16 August 2021). "What rules will the Taliban impose on women in Afghanistan?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021. During the repressive Taliban regime of the 1990s and early 2000s ... girls were prevented from going to school, and women were forced to wear the burqa and were not allowed out in public without a male guardian.
  4. ^ "The Islamic veil across Europe". BBC News. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Where are 'burqa bans' in Europe?". Deutsche Welle. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. ^ Tan, Rebecca (16 August 2018). "From France to Denmark, bans on full-face Muslim veils are spreading across Europe". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. ^ Alexandra Parachini. "Le Luxembourg a désormais sa loi burqa | Le Quotidien" (in French). Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Switzerland referendum: Voters support ban on face coverings in public". BBC News. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Norway votes in favour of banning burqa in schools and universities". The Independent. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ Levin, Dan (18 October 2017). "Quebec Bars People in Face Coverings From Receiving Public Services (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  11. ^ "The veil in west Africa - Banning the burqa". The Economist. 11 February 2016. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Après le Tchad et le Cameroun, le Sénégal renonce à la burqa et à ses suppôts". Franceinfo (in French). 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  13. ^ Colombo, Associated Press in (13 March 2021). "Sri Lanka to ban burqa and close 1,000 Islamic schools". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Tajikstan passes law 'to stop Muslim women wearing hijabs'". The Independent. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  15. ^ Yevgrashina, Lada (10 December 2010). "Muslims in Azerbaijan protest over headscarves". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  16. ^ Sanghani, Radhika (8 July 2016). "Burka bans: The countries where Muslim women can't wear veils". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Headscarf ban sparks debate over Kosovo's identity". BBC News. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Bosnia women protest at ban on headscarf". BBC News. 7 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  19. ^ Ennaji, Moha (31 January 2017). "Why Morocco's burqa ban is more than just a security measure". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Tunisia bans niqab in government buildings". BBC News. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Algeria bans woman working in public sector from wearing full-face veils". The Independent. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  22. ^ Phillips, Tom (13 January 2015). "China bans burqa in capital of Muslim region of Xinjiang". The Telegraph. No. 13 January 2015. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  23. ^ "China Uighurs: Xinjiang ban on long beards and veils". BBC News. 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

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