AJE: Cover-up campaign hits Gulf streets

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That is the message of two campaigns started by local women in the Gulf countries of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Najla Al Mahmoud is a Qatari behind the "One of Us" public awareness push, which hopes to educate expatriates about appropriate dress. Specifically, she wants people - men and women - in her country to cover up between the shoulders and the knees. During the summer "the scene of exposed flesh increases", Al Mahmoud said. "We are offended by this... but we are sure that people don't know and we are sure that people will respect this. Why wouldn't they? We want to educate them."

While the awareness campaigns are not focussed on creating dress code laws, they are about respecting cultural norms. But modesty and taste are subjective and without clear laws, what is acceptable attire is often left to the discretion of the wearer.

Article 30 of the UAE Constitution says, "Freedom of opinion and expressing it verbally, in writing or by other means of expression shall be guaranteed within the limits of the law." But to what extent does "other means" cover clothing - or lack of it?

There are also no laws that explicitly spell out the do's and don'ts of dressing in Qatar. Article No. 398 of the Qatari Criminal Act states that one can be fined 300 Qatari riyals (about $82) for acts of public indecency equivalent to urinating or bathing in public.

The only constitutional article that addresses the issue is Article 57, which states: "The respect of the Constitution, compliance with the laws issued by Public Authority, abiding by public order and morality, observing national traditions and established customs is a duty of all who reside in the State of Qatar or enter its territory."

Laws are not needed, and the constitutional article is enough for everyone, said Hassan Al Sayed, a prominent Qatari legal expert. "Just respect the culture in Qatar."

In social media and Qatari networking sites, some foreign women who have both applauded and denounced the modesty movement said they think time would be better spent campaigning to enforce laws that could save lives, for example fining people who smoke in areas where lighting up is banned, or requiring the use of seat belts.

Comments on Qatar Living, an online community website, run the gamut, with some stating that people should be allowed to wear what they want in public be it in Qatar or Belgium. But others believe that if people do not like the local laws or norms in the Gulf or Europe, then "they should go back to where they came from... In their country, it's their rules."

"We want Qatar to be a place for everyone. Something in the middle. Not too extreme and not too loose."
- Najla Al Mahmoud

Qatari Al Mahmoud said one could not compare Gulf campaigns to legal moves in Europe. "We are not interfering with religion... We are not banning a certain attire," she said. "Modesty doesn't have a religion or a country... We are not singling people out or being racists to one nationality or one religion. It's for everyone."

The Gulf should not go the route of some European countries that penalise some people for their clothing choices, said Emirati Al Ameri.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/06/2012614123018114938.html