The burka is a cloth soaked in blood: Western Muslim women who talk of choosing the hijab dismiss the struggles elsewhere

At a time when Islamophobia is at an all-time high, a ban will feel like yet another assault on Muslims and drive more women into adopting the hijab or burka as a flag of resistance.

However, that should not silence the debate. I believe it is misplaced for women to prioritise their race or communal identity over their gender identity. This is a cloth that comes soaked in blood. We cannot debate the burka or the hijab without reference to women in Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, where the wearing of it is heavily policed and any slippages are met with violence. [Guardian CiF] Read more