Morocco Burka Ban: What Next?

A woman in burka with her children

The interior ministry of Morocco last week Monday issued a written order banning the importation, manufacture and sale of the Burka (A veil that covers the face). Even though there has not been an official statement by the government, the move has gotten Moroccans ready for what is to come. The written order read thus: “Following the observations of the authorities, we notice that you make and sell burqas – we are calling on you to get rid of these clothes within 48 hours from your receipt of this message and to refrains from producing, selling them in the future.” An unidentified official was also quoted to have said, “We have taken the step of completely banning the import, manufacture and marketing of this garment in all the cities and towns of the kingdom.” 99% of Morocco’s 32.6 million population identify as Muslims which makes the new development quite shocking to most. Some individuals have linked the new development to ‘security’ while others have taken it from the religious/cultural perspective. Even though very few women wear the burka in Morocco, some observers believe this could be the beginning of a new wave of secularization which could even see the ban of the head scarf like has been done in the land of the colonial masters (France). Writers and thinkers have condemned the burqa ban. A columnist Abdellah Tourabi wrote “No authority in the world has the right to impose a dress code on a woman or a man for their everyday life. Is the burqa foreign to Moroccan culture? Sure, but “slim jeans were not the apparel of the sultans and our grandmothers were not crazy about Victoria’s Secret bras”.