The regent of Central Lombok in Indonesia, Moh. Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, has imposed “a new dress code for female civil servants.” It is now mandatory that all female Muslim civil servants wear the niqab — the “Islamic face covering instead of a face mask as part of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. He also suggested holding a contest for the best niqab.”
The coronavirus pandemic is merely being used as an excuse to apply the Sharia. The Quran states that Muslim women must be completely covered (Quran 24:31 and Quran 33:59).
Months ago, Sharia police in Indonesia’s Aceh province told an all-female flogging squad to “have no mercy for those who violate Allah’s law.”
“COVID-19 doesn’t excuse Lombok’s discriminatory dress code,” by Elaine Pearson, Coconuts, July 8, 2020:
A new dress code for female civil servants in Indonesia’s Central Lombok regency should concern all Indonesians.
On June 26 the Central Lombok regent, Moh. Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, instructed all female Muslim civil servants to wear a “cadar” (or “niqab”) Islamic face covering instead of a face mask as part of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. He also suggested holding a contest for the best niqab.
Women all over Central Lombok started purchasing niqabs. On July 3, for the first time, dozens of female civil servants participated in their weekly morning assembly wearing niqabs or full-face veils. Thohrir inspected female civil servants, mentioning the units one by one – public service, transportation, education – and their compliance with the niqab requirement. He praised the units that had overwhelmingly complied, while asking others “to do better” when some staff members wore long pants instead of long dresses with their niqabs.
Compelling Muslim women to wear a niqab to work is discriminatory. Male civil servants and non-Muslim women face no such restrictions on their attire and instead are encouraged to wear face masks to protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19. There is no medical evidence to suggest that a niqab is as effective a barrier as a face mask to protect one from the coronavirus.
In the Middle East, where a few countries have dress codes, Human Rights Watch is not aware of any that impose the niqab as mandatory face covering during the pandemic. This makes Indonesia an outlier in the dubious practice.
Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has identified hundreds of discriminatory national and local regulations in Indonesia, made in the name of Sharia (Islamic law), that violate women’s rights. These include forcing women and girls to wear the hijab (or headscarf) in government buildings, schools or public places, curfews, and other restrictions against women and girls….
CogitoErgoSum says
I would give the top prize to the person wearing a niqab that had artwork on the mask that made the person wearing it look like they were not wearing it.
CogitoErgoSum says
I’d give second and third prize to the mask that made the woman wearing it look like a camel or a sheep.
gravenimage says
Hilarious, CogitoErgoSum!
No doubt a reference to face masks in the West like this one:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0053/6661/2081/products/SMILINGFRONTEDIT_800x.jpg?v=1589130948
Mischief Maker in the Land says
And a Diana Dors wig on top.
revereridesagain says
I live in “Marxachusetts” and count myself lucky that the RINO governor or the Dumbocrat pols haven’t thought of that one yet! No doubt the Islamic Society of Boston has probably suggested it by now.
Ewanda says
Looking at the photo of the women, I am reminded of how joyful an occasion it will be when BURKA MONTH will be declared the world over and all men will be required to function for one hot summer month in their Burka – which can be decorated any way it pleases them. The only restriction will be that it will have to be black and no air conditioning. Those that know physics will appreciate the solar irony of the edict. This annual event will continue until women are freed of this horrendous insult to their Double “X'” chromosome.
Keith O says
Of course there is the usual deafening silence from western femonazis on the subject.
gravenimage says
I believe in equal rights for women and I condemn this.
gravenimage says
Indonesia: Central Lombok regency uses coronavirus as pretext to mandate niqab for civil servants
……………
Actually, Muslim garb has proven to be terribly unhygienic. But then, this is not the real point of what Indonesia is doing here.
Besides, if this *were* their goal, then they would mandate the Niqab for *men*, as well–let me just go out on a limb and assume this is not the case…
Political Oracle says
Well, Well! Looks like legitimate proof of violation of the ICCPR! Since Indonesia is a party to the covenant, that country is obligated to uphold women’s rights! Someone get the Pope on the phone so that he can mansplain to the president of Indonesia that women’s rights are being violated! While he is at it, tell the president of Indonesia to stop stalking female cyclists for wearing cyclist clothes! The ICCPR must be garbage if cannot be enforced! Hey UN, any questions! All female flogging squad huh? We will see what happens soon enough!
mortimer says
Good luck to the Indonesian lawyers who tried to protect women.
Giacomo Latta says
reference: photograph
Who took their scythes? Oh, that’s right, they have COVID-19 now.