ISL 372 Chapter Notes - Chapter 22: Chador, Leotard, Satin
Document Summary
Since the late 1990s, high-profile terrorism associated with militant islamic movements and events in the middle east has turned into international attention to arab and muslim cultures. The veil is one of the most widely recognized symbols of islamic identity. Modes of veiling pre-date islam, have never been exclusive to islam and vary across muslim societies. The resurgence of veiling amongst women since the 1970s has been attributed to the rise in popularity of muslim groups that generally advocate a return to traditional islamic tenets of dress, diet, and decorum. Veiling has become an autonomous expression of religious devotion and group identity that requires no such rite or rationale. After bombings, many non-muslims saw in the veil some proximity to potential violence and loyalty to something other than fellow citizens. The issue here is not this fear the threat to the nation symbolized in the growing presence of the veil surfaced in australia.