Miniskirts and hijabs find common enemy

Posted By Joshua Keating Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 7:40 PM Share

The miniskirt and the hijab (the traditional Islamic headscarf) might be on opposite ends of the women's fashion spectrum, but they've found a common enemy in the government of Uzbekistan which deems both items "alien" to Uzbek culture and hazardous to your health. From RFE/RL's TransMission blog:

Speaking in a 25-minute long, prime-time television program aired this week, Uzbek officials and doctors cited health and security reasons to condemn both the hijab and the miniskirt.

"Some religious extremist women carried guns under their hijab," warned an official from the state religious committee in the television program called "Tahdid" ("Threat").

The hijab can also cause oxygen and calcium deficiencies, warned doctors. As for women who wear miniskirts, they were advised to dress with "moderation" to prevent susceptibility to all kinds of infections and other unspecified health problems.

Tajikistan apparently tried to do something similar in 2007, banning both garments on university campuses. According to TransMission, the hijab ban was more effective than the miniskirt one.

ALI YUSSEF/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:CENTRAL ASIA, CULTURE, ISLAM, WOMEN

(1)

HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE

NYGDAN

10:13 AM ET

February 26, 2009

all politics are local no?

Don't Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have /much/ bigger problems that need addressing than skirts and scarves? Funny too in that this is the same sort of thing that happens in the US. We have a major economic meltdown, and there are /still/ politicians screaming over video games and 'insensitivity'

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.