Burqa

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For the traditional coat that may be worn by men of the Caucasus region, see burka.

A burqa (also burka or burqua) is a type of opaque veil sometimes worn in addition to a headscarf by Muslim women observing purdah.

Similar to a niqab, the burqa covers the wearer's entire face except for a small region about the eyes. A full burqa or Afghan burqa is a garment that conceals the entire body. The full burqa includes a "net curtain", which also hides the wearer's eyes. A burqa is somewhat similar to the abaya often worn in Saudi Arabia, and the chador often worn in Iran. During the Taliban's reign in Afghanistan, women were required to wear a full burqa.

Women in some Muslim societies or subcultures wear burqa because of exegetic interpretations of the hijab. Standards for modest dress (sartorial hijab) for Muslim women and men vary greatly depending on the cultural context.

Cultural conflict

Image:Afghan woman and child in Parwan Province.jpg In the Netherlands, school officials once forbade students from wearing burqa, arguing that non-verbal communication is required to teach the syllabus.

A court in New Zealand ruled that women cannot wear a burqa while providing courtroom testimony. To compromise, the Islamic Women's Council endorsed a policy that allowed Muslim women to be hidden from public view by a screen.

In Italy, hiding one's face while in public has been forbidden since 1975. An anti-terrorism law passed in 2005 imposes increased fines and prison sentences for violators of the law. Some believe that lawmakers specifically intended this clause to prevent women from wearing burqas. [1] [2].