The Burqa In Morocco

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An Update On Our Recent Post On Moroccan Clothes

Burgas are pretty common in North Morocco and a bit more rare in the south. Besides the burqa you will often find places where women often are wearing veils. It wasn’t until after the trip and doing research that I discovered that the Moroccan Government is trying to get people to abandon the wearing of burqas and veils. Within the past decade the king has decreed that the future of Morocco is dependent on a population that includes highly educated women enjoying equal status with men that resulted in new laws being enacted.

Morocco now has a policy that effectively bans the wearing of burqas (and full face veils) in public, prohibiting the sale, production, and import of them, meaning women are not allowed to wear burqas in the country; however, other forms of hijab (headscarves) are not explicitly banned, though some restrictions may apply in certain settings like government workplaces.

Key points about Morocco’s burqa policy

Ban on full face veils: – The Moroccan government has banned the wearing of burqas, also known as niqabs, which completely cover the face.
No manufacturing or sale: – This ban includes the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of burqas within the country.
School restrictions: – The Ministry of Education also prohibits the wearing of niqabs in schools.
A moderate interpretation of Islam: – Morocco is considered to have a moderate interpretation of Islam, so while head coverings are common, the full face veil is no longer widely accepted.

Enforcement has had problems and often is confronted with the question of who is the offender. Is it the woman wearing the burqa or the man forcing her to wear it?

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