Veil or human?

Najwa, 16 – year old Muslim girl decided to go in veil to one of the schools in Madrid. She kept  maintaining her tradition till the day when the school’s headmaster ordered her to take the veil off. She didn’t do it, even though she knew that the dismissal from the school is possible. The official reason of that demand is that she broke the school’s statue, which tells that it’s forbidden to wear cups or other kinds of headgear. But behind it we have the problem that is still not regulated in Spain.

Referring to the law, it’s obvious that if we are part of the particular society or, as we belong to one culture but want to integrate with another, we should accept submission to its law. Theoretically the headmaster fulfilled his duty, but the point is that each citizen has its rights that are guaranteed by the constitution. In case of Najwa, it is a right to education, which should be respected in the first place.

Undoubtedly, there are some basic rights that constitutes our humanity since French Revolution. Freedom, equality, brotherhood –  meaningful values or everyone. However, what is important here is the question of interpretation. In Eastern civilization we have tendency to look at Muslim culture through the glass of our tradition and principles that are so different that we often don’t realise. What equality meant for the headmaster of the school? That all children need to come to school without headgear. Then they are equal . This is the direct “reading” without  reflexion, that I cannot agree with. It seems that it doesn’t matter that for Najwa wearing the veil is not a way to be more fashionable but it comes from her tradition, culture, religion. That’s the roots that shaped her for all her life and define her as a human being. If we look at the more basic, human level we will able to understand what “equality” means. Wearing the veil doesn’t disturb anyone in their normal life, the same way as wearing neck chain with cross by Christians doesn’t do it neither. Cultural and religious symbols shouldn’t be a root of disagreement in the educational area.

Of course it doesn’t mean that we have to accept all rights that immigrants demand. Spain has its own constitution that need to be respected by those who wants to live there. Nevertheless, sometimes we need more wide and reflexive view. Golden mean is always difficult to find, but not impossible. All in all, we are just people and as much as people.

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