Hijab-wearing Policewomen Cause Stir in Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese authorities are weighing up what action to take after a group of newly recruited policewomen showed up for training wearing the hijab, a security official said on Friday.
The policewomen, numbering nearly 40 and all reportedly Shiites, were among hundreds who sat for an exam to join the Internal Security Forces earlier this year.
But when they turned up for their first training exercise this week, they wore the hijab, an Islamic headscarf, which goes against the military's code of conduct, the security official told Agence France Presse.
A government official said several of the policewomen had agreed to remove the garment, but about 20 refused and did not take part in the training session.
"According to the military code of conduct, whether it be for the police, army or general security, all religious symbols are not allowed," said the security official.
"Any symbols linked to a community or religion are banned, whether it be a cross, a veil or any other symbol," he added. "We are simply applying the law."
The official said the matter would probably be resolved by cabinet ministers.
23 March 2012, 22:39
13
Don't try creating a religious strife by including sunnis. Those 40 freshly police graduates in question are all Shia.
24 March 2012, 00:29
02
a time and place for everything hijab when you pray or on your personal time not at government job leave religion out of it
07 May 2013, 20:49
00
What about the right of a woman to wear whatever she wants, whenever she wants and wherever she wants? There is freedom of choice, right? I am not Lebanese, nor I live in Lebanon, but it is scary to see that women are condemning other women for what their wear. To call the covering of the hair a breaking of the code of conduct is outrageous. The law was broken the moment these women were asked to which religion they belong.
23 March 2012, 12:58
125
Religion has nothing to do with this, it is purely a political stance. They nibble their way into every aspect of life till one day the "islamic republic" becomes a reality in Lebanon.
23 March 2012, 15:46
121
yes we know it hurts you that they don't have david star instead you slime
23 March 2012, 13:00
328
they are all farsi persian thugs be it their men or their women! This is no "innocent" incident.... it has been premeditated with approval from their Hizb and their Murshid!
23 March 2012, 16:01
02
Good one jabalamel proud member in the filthy Zionist agents infested bee2at al haddinat and Iranian Islamic revolution in Lebanon you are worth every penny.
23 March 2012, 20:39
05
Actually we do and we will. come to lebanon you filth instead of hiding in your western country behind your laptop
23 March 2012, 13:03
422
if these "women" were of any other denomination, they would be referred to as "wahabis", "Salafists", "Sunni Crazies", "Crusaders", etc. But coz they are shias, they are of course sisters of the mujaheedine whose duty is to provide those saints with "pleasure"!
24 March 2012, 01:54
15
Long live Israel, may it soon rain terror on you and your party of thugs very soon.
23 March 2012, 13:11
312
what the article "forgot" to say, is that Berri approves the banning of the Hijab and thus the problem is not a Shiaa problem, sorry to disappoint all the Sectarians in M14
23 March 2012, 15:47
160
no worry they will
and contrary to m14 police members, who just cooperate with zionists, these ones will actually find the criminals and traitors.
23 March 2012, 20:40
03
habal amel, all the 'traitors' caught were M8's and most recently was yuor ally fayez karam who only got 2 year sentence in jail for capital treason!! have you not heard the news idiot?
24 March 2012, 01:56
06
I would like to see the looks on the faces of GMA supporters when these women are assgined to patrol the streets of Jounieh and Ajaltoun.
23 March 2012, 13:16
253
The above are hypocritical racists. Indeed, they probably would be in an outrage if Christians were disallowed from doing their exams due to them wearing crosses.
23 March 2012, 14:48
211
You're the coward one by hiding under a guest name. Muslim or Christian officers can carry with them miniature a discreet religious items such as a mini qur'an/bible or jewelry in their pocket, that's not a problem...l but a veil? Wtf! We don't want Lebanon to become an Islamic Republic.
23 March 2012, 13:31
253
I'm from kesrewan nd wud love to see police women in my area. What do I care what religion are they or what they have on their heads. This religion bashing is very sad. We should all move away from this sectarian hate.
23 March 2012, 15:48
140
the filthy zionist slime wanted to say something to patriotic lebanese
23 March 2012, 14:40
16
JC ... STFU ... Read the story you moron ... they did the exam without wearing the Hijab because they knew it would disqualify them at that early stage ... after they were admitted they thought in their perverted way that the scandal would be too much to bare if they were kicked out for wearing the hijab and thus decided to defy the code of conduct booklet theat they receive prior to joing the first training session. The 20 that removed it are probable being kicked and abused right now and would later be killed and called martyrs!
Enough turning Lebanon into welayat al fakih w keep it a free liberal country.
23 March 2012, 14:50
62
What is wrong with wearing a hijab if Lebanon is 60% Muslim????? I am Sunni with Tayyar Mustaqbal, I hate the hezz, but I mean come on you guys, you lot are becoming radical.
23 March 2012, 15:01
28
Yu don't get the point. Islam dates back to 1400+ years and this phenomenon only appears today. It's not us that are become radicals, quite the opposite! Did you get my point?
23 March 2012, 18:13
42
Benzona, who asked you about islam? The hijab has been part of islam ever since the quran was revealed by God. Dont tell us about islam.
23 March 2012, 15:03
11
We are not a muslim country, we are not a christians country , we are not a jew country , we are open to the world we are citizens of this world grow up get education and live ur life and when a rule says u cannot work with a hijab u must respect it otherwise let them go work elsewhere !i am sure it is not practical to work with it ! there is no wrong with that ! and u will sweat and smell the hell out of it 1 after training sessions
23 March 2012, 15:03
27
there is nothing against wearing hijab, but there is a lot in forcing ones ways onto others. this is why everybodyis against this.
when there are rules like at the antonine unversity and the armed forces, no one has the right to come impsing their religious beliefs.
23 March 2012, 15:06
02
Libani for ur info u are not 60 per cent of the whole lebanese population ! if Lebanon is a real democracy the lebanese abroad have the right of votes and give their opinion just to remind u that 6 millions are living in Brazil and most of them are Christians please read about Lebanon ! This country is unique and it is not a matter of number but qualityyyyyyy wake up and stop giving false number
24 March 2012, 02:02
10
Don't forget, Christians living in the gulf states, France, England, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Detroit, New York....the list is endless.
24 March 2012, 18:54
00
Bandoul, exactly, they choose to live anywhere in the world except lebanon. If you care so much about voting then who is stopping you from returning to lebanon and beeing a real lebanese instead of living elsewhere? Nobody is stopping u, your the ones who have chosen to live outside of lebanon! Stop making excuses, you dont want to live here then fine, just dont whine about it!
24 March 2012, 18:52
10
The real lebanese, the lebanese living outside of lebanon who still have the lebanese nationality should vote, not those who were naturalized in other peoples countries. You cant have it both ways. If someone doesnt even want to live and pay taxes in lebanon then why do you want to vote? Stop being hypocrites!
23 March 2012, 15:43
66
Oh thank you Libnani, thank you for your generous estimte that only 40% of Lebanese are Christians...Yesterday a Shiite commentator put that percentage down at 25 & 30%. I like to observe how some Shiaa and Sunni lower down the number of Christians in Lebanon in order to justify Islamizing the country...It must be really bothering some that Lebanon is the only Arab country that is Half Christians / Half Muslim. Most Christians are proud to boast in front of European and American friends that Lebanon has a strong Christian presence. I bet a lot of muslims get ashamed when they have to admit to their friends from Muslim Nations that Lebanon is not yet an "Islamic Land".
23 March 2012, 15:50
140
and this zionist mouthpiece hallucinated that he has a lot to say while he didn't have anything to say like always.
24 March 2012, 02:03
12
You talking about yourself in the 3rd person again? Oum oum, beli tistrak satrrr.
23 March 2012, 16:36
42
You do not know me. I love the religious diversity of Lebanon, and I brag to my Palestinian or other Arab friends that Lebanese Muslims know how to live with other sects better than any other Arab land. But to make an issue of women wearing a hijab in their work is imported from the racist Western countries that are becoming more anti Islamic. Christians of Lebanon, being anti Islamic will get you nowhere, Muslims are of large numbers in Lebanon. Just as I will tell Muslims being anti Christian will get you nowhere, due to the large Christian population. No to sectarianism, all of us are Lebanese, let's keep religion to ourselves, and out of government.
23 March 2012, 18:28
30
Libnani, thats a lie dont you think? Most arab states know how to live with other sects much better than lebanese. Just look at the racist comments here just bcuz some muslim women want to cover their hair in work!
23 March 2012, 16:42
120
I have Moslem and Christians friends from Lebanon. None of them bragged how many moslems or christians are in Lebanon. They brag about their traditions and food and culture. Not all christians follow their religion to the letter, and the same goes to all of them.
24 March 2012, 02:05
01
You continue to have an Identity Crisis, time for you to move on to things more suited for your age.
23 March 2012, 18:15
50
Anonymous, muslims and druze are over 70% in lebanon deal with it.
24 March 2012, 02:06
11
In your dreams! Oh wait, you are considering GMA and his sellout fake maronites...ok ok, I see your point now.
24 March 2012, 19:01
00
Bandoul, in your dreams maronites are the majority right? Newsflash, most maronites are syrian in origin and most of them live outside lebanon. In lebanon, lebanese muslims and druze make up over 70% of the population, no refugees included. And if we are to exclude naturalized syrians and palestinians then that would also mean that 99% of maronites get excluded since they are of syrian origin yet have lebanese passport. So no matter how you look at it, muslims are the majority. Love it, hate it, it doesnt matter, its a fact.
23 March 2012, 22:21
13
The problem is fh Christian exodus... They are all leaving our country hence the number in decline. Christian represent (probably) 40% of the total population... If you include druze un Islam the other other side is part of the majority. But it has only been associated to Islam for a century,not more. In any case, no side should try to dominate the other and the Christian leadership should do something to prevent the exodus and the very least I can say is that General Aoun is doing quite the opposite.
23 March 2012, 16:12
11
Following this decision the Sri Lankan garbage collectors working at the ISF HQ will have to go through a rigorous training program to help them distinguish the new recruits from the trash bags.
First lesson use your nose, the trash bags have a distinctly fresher odor and fewer cockraches.
23 March 2012, 17:05
12
Religious symbols will never have a place in lebanons armed forces. They never have and never will. The fact that all the women are shiaa is not the point. I don't know why that made it into the article. To all the people down playing this incident, good for you. Because this will never gain any momentum.
23 March 2012, 17:33
24
Libnani - i am glad that you love diversity. But don't you think that by wearing a Hijab - It will stand out in a croud as a statement by the wearer - that i am Muslim. Lebanese went into great length to ban mentioning sects on ID cards, to decrease sectarianism (ID's BTW are usually buried inside purses and wallets and don't stand out in public). If you look at Lebanese documentary pictures/movies from 60's & 70's, you won't be able to distinguish Muslim from Non-Muslim wonen - headscarfs were few (Niqab Non-Existing)....So it is not the Christins that became radicals it is the Muslims who now want to differentiate themselves from all other religions.
If we want the armed forces to remain truthful in their claim that they are of all Lebanese & for all Lebanese - they cannot show secterian symbols like Headscarfs.
23 March 2012, 17:43
31
Yes, wearing a headscarf is someone's testament to their Muslim faith, just as a Lebanese person wearing a cross is testament to their Christian faith. Religious symbols should be of no issue to any Lebanese, we must all respect each others' traditions and customs, that is what La lta2ifiya means, not limiting or belittling customs of another faith, but accepting it in understanding that we are all people of the same language, culture, and history.
23 March 2012, 17:51
35
For Muslim men, we noticed a rise in beard wearing men.
In the Old days (also 60's & 70's) only respectable old Muslim clregymen used grow a beard that would give a fitting image of their wise and father figure status. Nowadays, a lot of young muslim punks who barely passed puberty, are growing long beards to show that they are muslims...
I tell you, Headscarfs & Beards nowadays are no longer a sign of piety, their mass usurpation has turned them into just a political secterianism tool.
23 March 2012, 17:59
12
Millions of Lebanese Muslims around the world. And still a large number of them put lebanon first. And that's what matters. The mixing of religion and armed forces is a slap in the face to every person that wears lebanon on the sleeve!
24 March 2012, 02:10
20
Millions? Really? Oh I forgot, 10 kids to a Muslim family and 2 to a Christian, maybe you are right...you guys are trying to outbread us....still the world is 33% Christian and 21% Muslim, you have a lot of breading to go, good luck.
23 March 2012, 18:00
12
Libnani
You cannot see a cross if you were 3 meters away...but you can point to a headscarf from a kilometer away...see the difference.
besides the issue here is not about civilian Muslim women who want to walk on the streets in Headscarf. It is about the armed forces that need to show to the Lebanese that they are Neutral - and Secterianism free. Headscarf wouldn't fit in that image.
23 March 2012, 18:24
12
@jcamerican
You want me to believe that none of your American friends asked you about how does Lebanon looks like. And you never told them the in Lebanon you will find a bikini women on beach sitting next to a Nikab wearing women
Or how in Beirut you will see church bell tower next to a Minaret
This diversity in Lebanon never entered your discussion
23 March 2012, 18:47
21
In a DEMOCRACY the majority rule. Let us see what the M14 sunnis say since they represent more than half of M14 supporters.
23 March 2012, 18:58
12
To lebanesebeirut
Correction - Most Arab states don't need to deal with other sects because they don't have any. Those that do, these other sects are treated as second class citizens with limited right and almost no religious freedom to worship as they please
While Muslims in Europe and America are flourishing even better than those in Muslim nations.
Muslim + Druze > 70% in your Jihadist dream Mr Takfiri.
23 March 2012, 19:24
10
Anonymous, it must have been ages since you read about lebanon. Muslims (ie sunnis and shiites) are about 65 % together while druze are about 7 %, so yes the total makes over 70% for muslims and druze. Deal with it instead of calling people who provide you with statistics " takfiri jihadis" grow up you crusader terrorist ;) and you are wrong if you think lebanon is the only country who have non muslims as first class citizens. Besides had it been as you claim then why so many maronites that migrated to dubai and UAE to work and live, they dont even wanna return bcuz they are so happy there. Likewise in syria, jews in tunisia and morocco etc. Saudi arabia is the exception to the rule. Iraq under saddam had christians living first class, it wasent until the christian US army came to liberate them that their situation got worse. Stop playing the victim all the time. Muslims are more opressed by the arab dictators than what christians are.
23 March 2012, 20:15
12
Seriously now guys, could someone clarify something to me.
Do Muslim women "Have to" wear a Headscarf?
Or is it that some women wear it because they want to feel more pious and observant?
The reason i am asking, is that i see Muslim women who don't wear Headscarfs, are they automatically shunned as non-observant, Non-pious?
Some of those women are very respected successful doctors with wonderful families, and they think they are true/pious muslim as well but they don't feel they need to wear a hijab.
23 March 2012, 21:17
20
Anonymous, the hijab is wajib. In the past the women used to cover their hair but not their bosom area so God sent a quranic verse telling women to lengthen the scarf so it covers the bosoms as well. Even christian women are ordered to cover their hair in church by the bible. Covering of the hair was always part of religion in the middle east, and after the quranic verse came down the covering of the hair was extended to covering the breast/cleavege area as well. And sure a women can be pious without the hijab but she is still sinning for not wearing it as its a command from God so while being pious when it comes to other aspects, she would be sinning when it comes to her dress. Likewise a man can be pious when it comes to his prayer but unpious when it comes to gazing at women etc.
23 March 2012, 20:44
22
I have seen women wearing hijab who work for the US customs for god's sake, what is the big deal and why all these comments!! who cares what you woorship and what you wear as long as you do your freakin duties. habal amel and the rest of his cronies: lebanon is too small to be divided and your hizzie is only a sectarian party, learn to live with others, if 'patriotism' to you is to worship the mullas of tehran then more than half of lebanon are traitors.
23 March 2012, 21:18
20
Falanges, is that why virgin mary (peace be upon her) covered her hair according to you?
23 March 2012, 21:32
12
Thanks lebanesebeirut for your answer
So basically they "Have to".
Now if she doesn't wear that Hijab...is that considered a serious sin i.e. she will burn in hell for it...or is it just a sin that is frowned upon, and if she is pious/observant in other aspects, she will still be saved and go to heaven.
23 March 2012, 22:24
13
Don't waste your time on that loser. Ignore his posts as I did. Focus your energy on people that are worth it ;)
23 March 2012, 22:29
60
Do you live in a very isolated area in Texas, like a farm or something? Get a life, or a book, or you can google the info you need for your thesis.
23 March 2012, 21:46
20
Hey FBI guy you can tell im not from kesrewan because I dont hate or bash other religions? maybe you have not been there lately or, worse, you are hanging with the wrong people. see you in ajaltoun.
23 March 2012, 21:55
11
^
65 per cent ? who gives u statistics ? looool what i know my little friend is that alot of christians love Lebanon but are forced to live abroad because they are not helped by Iran or Saudi and they fight out there to live and to build a life ... Carlos SLim Helou is the perfect example... so if we are a perfect democracy like France the lebanese abroad can vote and believe me if u like it or not statistics will change. so please dont say that who is more than who cuz we dont care ... and please stop counting the people like palestinians, syrians and the rest that got the nationality
23 March 2012, 23:45
11
Carlos Slim who is the wealthiest person on earth had to be paid to come to Lebanon. He and millions others could care less about Voting in Lebanese elections. ANY person who has a Lebanese nationality is Lebanese, whether they came from Syria in the last century or the many Maronites who came from Syria centuries ago.
24 March 2012, 17:22
00
I did not learn history from reading Wikipedia like you ya stupid (Slash) fascist!!!
24 March 2012, 19:11
00
The real lebanese, ie the real liar, stop living in a delusion. You chose to live outside period. In lebanon, lebanese muslims + the druze make up over 70% of the population, no refugees included so deal with it instead of denying something so obvious. Your living in a delusion. Carlos slim couldnt care less about lebanon, he is mexican, his kids consider themselves to be mexican, not lebanese. He couldnt give a damn about lebanon or lebanese yet you use him as the so called perfect example, is this how desperate you are?
24 March 2012, 02:32
24
First it was the Muslim students praying in a Catholic University, against University rules. Now this. Obviously, Hezbullah is under orders from Iran and their puppet, Bashar Assad, to start trouble in Lebanon to try to take the heat off of him and them, as well. It won't work.
24 March 2012, 05:31
20
very fair for a country like Lebanon. this is the only way to keep the army united for the future of this country. all of those people that are arguing , shut up once for the benefit of this country. once the army is divided , 2oulou al salamou 3alayk ya liban
24 March 2012, 06:48
22
You people are more wary and distrusting of your own kind than you are of Israel. Lebanese idiots are the perfect example of the divide and conquer strategy. Please do not change.
24 March 2012, 09:13
30
They were not Shia. This is the kind of sectarian propaganda conducted by the March 14'ers.
Moreover, it is obvious that the ISF is for Sunnis and March 14 Maronites. Why would 40 religious Shia women join?
Use your brains for one second.
24 March 2012, 19:14
01
Maronites on naharnet are like children, you know muslims are the majority in lebanon yet you deny it as if muslims will stop being majority if you deny it. Its a fact, not a war declaration but you guys use anything to portray yourselfs as victims.
25 March 2012, 18:05
00
The time has come to put an end to the infiltration of Wilayat Al-Faqih to our institutions in order to prevent what you are about to see from happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5caPR0oouTI
26 March 2012, 08:37
00
هل الموضوع غير قانون و هناك خلل من قوى الامن و هذا يعتبر تلاعب و يجب عدم القبول منذ البداية و الطائفة المسيحية مثلا يرتدون شعائر دينية و لا احد يتعاطى معهم و كذلك اكثر الاسماء تدل على طائفة محددة و القانون لا يعترض على الحجاب لذلك يجب ابقاء المتحجبين في الدورة او التقدم من قبلهم بشكوى الى مجلس شورى الدولة و اين الرئيس بري و باقي الرؤساء التابعييين لى الطائفة المسلمى (السنيين و الشيعى ) للحفاظ على حقوق المسلمين
28 March 2012, 03:05
00
أقول نحن اللبنانيين عنصريين حتى العظم... يا أخوان في أستراليا وبريطانيا وكلاهما دول من أرقى دول العالم وكلاهما دول علمانية يوجد سيدات مسلمات في سلك الشرطة والمباحث والجمارك ويحتفظن بحجابهن... وأنا شخصيا في اخر رحلة لي الى استراليا، السيدة التي خلصت لي جواز السفر في مطار سيدني كانت سيدة محجبة.... فيكفينا تفاهة وعنصرية وتعصب هيا بنا لنرقى ونتعالى عن تلك الامور الصغيرة ولنعامل الانسان كانسان.. فالمرأة المحجبة هي انسانة كباقي البشر ويمكن ان تكون على أعلى درجة من العلم والاخلاق والمواطنية فلماذا نحرمها حقها في ان تكون في أية وظيفة ويا للأسف كم نحن اصطناعيين ولسنا حقيقيين... هناك الكثير من المحجبات الطبيبات ودكاترة الجامعات والمهندسات والمحاميات والمدرسات الى اخره... فلنكن طبيعيين ولنقدر الناس على قدر كفاءاتهم و عطاءاتهم وليس على قدر دينهم وعرقهم وكيف يلبسون وماذا يضعون على روؤوسهم...
07 April 2012, 22:45
00
Historically Christian women veiled too. Although nearly all women veiling in Lebanon are Muslim, everyone should remember that it's origins spread across many religious groups. I actually know more Christian women is various parts of the world taking on the veil. If a Muslim women wants to wear the veil, fine. If a Christian woman wants to veil, fine. The issue is really separation of religion and state. I just hope that Muslims and Christians Stop dividing themselves with the veil as it has played a role in both of their cultures historically.
