Iranian chador – in vogue or identity threat?

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: A preacher of Friday prayers in Wassit last week could not hide his concerns before worshippers about many young girls wearing the Iranian chador, which he termed as “immodest”. Others, however, believe that the growing phenomenon is going far beyond the question of immodesty as it should ring an alarm bell about a threat posed against social identity and heritage that has characterized Iraqi women for a long time. “I think the Iranian women’s outfit is not conforming with Islam. Wearing it only means there’s something wrong with the people’s religious awareness. We have our own heritage, traditions and history that we received from one generation to another,” Hajj Bassem al-Yudawi, a merchant, told IraqiNews.com news agency. “This outfit would eat away at our identity because it represents a culture that is alien to us. Why should we wear garments of a country that has traditions different from ours?” wondered Yudawi. The Iranian chador is a loose, usually black robe worn by Muslim women that covers the body from head to toe and most of the face. “The Iranian chador outline women’s bodies that God Has prohibited to appear except for their husbands. By contrast, the Iraqi gowns are modest and do not outline women’s bodies,” he added. Sheikh Emadeddin Falah, a cleric, said the Islamic gowns, suitable for the Iraqi society, must be made of thick cloth and cover women’s bodies. “These gowns should be placed on the head and cover even the feet and should be void of any embroidery or ornamental features,” he said. He noted that the Iranian gown is not one that is commensurate with the sharia (Islamic law). “It should not be imported, manufactured, sold or propagate for women. The Iraqi long-sleeved gown is the one that is in conformity with the sharia ,” he added. Ali Zeghir, a salesman of cloth and garments, told IraqiNews.com that he has no objection to any dress codes except when they are motivated by certain political or religious insinuations. “Only then, those exotic dress codes could harm the society’s culture and heritage,” said Zeghir. Abu Seif, an owner of a store selling gowns, said young girls in Wassit, particularly university students, are preferring the Iranian chador to the Iraqi gowns. “I sell five to seven Iranian chadors per day. Their prices are ranging between 15,000 and 20,000 Iraqi dinars depending on the quality of the fabrics,” Abu Seif said, adding the Iraqi gown, which cost 30,000 Iraqi dinars, are not making good sales. AmR (S) 2