I've been reading the several articles that have been coming out about banning niqab in Egypt- as a western revert, I have chosen to wear hijab to be closer to God- many women wearing niqab believe they are doing the same.
One thing I'm tired of hearing is 'you're in america, you need to dress like us- when we go to the middle east, we dress like them to respect their culture' - the right to dress as you wish is a right America has granted all people so who are they to say a woman can't dress as they see fit? this is how I feel about the other places- its a woman's choice. personally, niqab could be considered a security issue but an article I read about egypt is that the security guard at a university would ask the women to reveal their face to compare to their ID and they complied so there wasn't an issue. That can be a challenge for those who don't want to show their faces, but that is an understandable reality in particular places.
As for hijab discrimination, there should be no lawful reason for any woman wearing hijab to be denied to job- what about women who cover their hair with a wig or a scarf due to cancer? The denial is religious discrimination and America has laws against that- abercomie and finch are being sued because of this http://www.utulsa.edu/collegian/article.asp?article=4185
I myself am highly qualified as a teacher and have graduate degrees- I dare any public school to not hire me due to my hijab if I am an acceptable candidate for the job. Just my two cents :)
