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‘The Way People Look at Us Has Changed’: Muslim Women on Life in Europe ‘The Way People Look at Us Has Changed’: Muslim Women on Life in Europe
(about 2 hours later)
The storm over bans on burkinis in more than 30 French beach towns has all but drowned out the voices of Muslim women, for whom the full-body swimsuits were designed. The New York Times solicited their perspective, and the responses — more than 1,000 comments from France, Belgium and beyond — went much deeper than the question of swimwear.The storm over bans on burkinis in more than 30 French beach towns has all but drowned out the voices of Muslim women, for whom the full-body swimsuits were designed. The New York Times solicited their perspective, and the responses — more than 1,000 comments from France, Belgium and beyond — went much deeper than the question of swimwear.
What emerged was a portrait of life as a Muslim woman, veiled or not, in parts of Europe where terrorism has put people on edge. One French term was used dozens of times: “un combat,” or “a struggle,” to live day to day. Many who were born and raised in France described confusion at being told to go home.What emerged was a portrait of life as a Muslim woman, veiled or not, in parts of Europe where terrorism has put people on edge. One French term was used dozens of times: “un combat,” or “a struggle,” to live day to day. Many who were born and raised in France described confusion at being told to go home.
Courts have struck down some of the bans on burkinis — the one in Nice, the site of a horrific terror attack on Bastille Day, was overturned on Thursday — but the debate is far from over.Courts have struck down some of the bans on burkinis — the one in Nice, the site of a horrific terror attack on Bastille Day, was overturned on Thursday — but the debate is far from over.
“For years, we have had to put up with dirty looks and threatening remarks,” wrote Taslima Amar, 30, a teacher in Pantin, a suburb of Paris. “I’ve been asked to go back home (even though I am home).” Now, Ms. Amar said, she and her husband were looking to leave France.“For years, we have had to put up with dirty looks and threatening remarks,” wrote Taslima Amar, 30, a teacher in Pantin, a suburb of Paris. “I’ve been asked to go back home (even though I am home).” Now, Ms. Amar said, she and her husband were looking to leave France.
Laurie Abouzeir, 32, said she was considering starting a business caring for children in her home in Toulouse, southern France, because that would allow her to wear a head scarf, frowned upon and even banned in some workplaces.Laurie Abouzeir, 32, said she was considering starting a business caring for children in her home in Toulouse, southern France, because that would allow her to wear a head scarf, frowned upon and even banned in some workplaces.
Many women wrote that anti-Muslim bias had intensified after the attacks on Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January 2015, and in Brussels, Paris and Nice this year. Halima Djalab Bouguerra, a 21-year-old student in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, dated the change further back, to the killings by Mohammed Merah in the southwest of the country in 2012. Many women wrote that anti-Muslim bias had intensified after the attacks on Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January 2015, and in Brussels, Paris and Nice more recently. Halima Djalab Bouguerra, a 21-year-old student in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, dated the change further back, to the killings by Mohammed Merah in the southwest of the country in 2012.
“The way people look at us has changed,” Ms. Bouguerra wrote. “Tongues have loosened. No one is afraid of telling a Muslim to ‘go back home’ anymore.”“The way people look at us has changed,” Ms. Bouguerra wrote. “Tongues have loosened. No one is afraid of telling a Muslim to ‘go back home’ anymore.”
Here are some excerpts from the comments we received. They have been condensed and edited for clarity, and translated for those who wrote in French.Here are some excerpts from the comments we received. They have been condensed and edited for clarity, and translated for those who wrote in French.
— Dina Srouji, 23, Lebbeke, Belgium. Student and student reporter at the University of Gent. Instagram: @dindinsr— Dina Srouji, 23, Lebbeke, Belgium. Student and student reporter at the University of Gent. Instagram: @dindinsr
— Hajer Zennou, 27, Lyon, France. Designer. She was referring to a woman who was surrounded by police officers on a beach in Nice.— Hajer Zennou, 27, Lyon, France. Designer. She was referring to a woman who was surrounded by police officers on a beach in Nice.
— Charlotte Monnier, 23, Toulouse, France. Architecture student.— Charlotte Monnier, 23, Toulouse, France. Architecture student.
— Samia Fekih, 36, Paris. Digital project manager.— Samia Fekih, 36, Paris. Digital project manager.
— Nawal Afkir, 25, Brussels— Nawal Afkir, 25, Brussels
— Souad el Bouchihati, 26, Gouda, the Netherlands. Social worker.— Souad el Bouchihati, 26, Gouda, the Netherlands. Social worker.
— Hadjira Skoundri, 22, Toulouse, France. Administrative agent in the local government.— Hadjira Skoundri, 22, Toulouse, France. Administrative agent in the local government.
— Mira Hassine, 27, Orléans, France. Administrator at a construction company and a practicing Muslim who does not wear a veil.— Mira Hassine, 27, Orléans, France. Administrator at a construction company and a practicing Muslim who does not wear a veil.
— Karima Mondon, 37. French teacher who recently moved to Casablanca, Morocco, from Lyon, France.— Karima Mondon, 37. French teacher who recently moved to Casablanca, Morocco, from Lyon, France.
— Saima Ashraf, 39, London. Twitter: @saimaashraf25— Saima Ashraf, 39, London. Twitter: @saimaashraf25
— Linda Alem, 27, Paris. Nurse at a dialysis center.— Linda Alem, 27, Paris. Nurse at a dialysis center.
— Nora Mahboub, 21, Paris. Engineering student.— Nora Mahboub, 21, Paris. Engineering student.
— Siam Ferhat-Basset, 29, Drancy, France. Former receptionist.— Siam Ferhat-Basset, 29, Drancy, France. Former receptionist.
— Saadia Akessour, 31, Liège, Belgium. Stay-at-home mother who had to remove her veil during a midwifery internship and has since abandoned her studies.— Saadia Akessour, 31, Liège, Belgium. Stay-at-home mother who had to remove her veil during a midwifery internship and has since abandoned her studies.
— Fadoua Hachimi, 41, Les Lilas, France. Purchasing assistant.— Fadoua Hachimi, 41, Les Lilas, France. Purchasing assistant.
— Nadia Lamarti, 35, Zellik, Belgium. Mother of four daughters who has trained as a social worker.— Nadia Lamarti, 35, Zellik, Belgium. Mother of four daughters who has trained as a social worker.
— Assia Boukhelifa, 22, Lille. Political science student.— Assia Boukhelifa, 22, Lille. Political science student.
— Ennaji Loubna, 30, Perpignan, France. Studying for a master’s in sociology.— Ennaji Loubna, 30, Perpignan, France. Studying for a master’s in sociology.
— Khadija Manouach, 29, Brussels. Teacher in an elementary school.— Khadija Manouach, 29, Brussels. Teacher in an elementary school.
— Sarah Nahal, Grenoble, France. Student in economics and management.— Sarah Nahal, Grenoble, France. Student in economics and management.
— Nadia Benabdelkader, 25, Roubaix, France. Student.— Nadia Benabdelkader, 25, Roubaix, France. Student.