Debate has raged for centuries over the Islamic instructions on modesty for Muslim women.
Which parts of the body, if any, are they obliged to keep covered and with what garments?
Are headscarves and veils mainly worn by choice as an expression of faith or are they tools of male oppression that can hinder women’s integration into society?
In the Koran, one of the first mentions of protecting decency — the concept of hijab — is aimed not at women but at men, telling them to “cast down their glances” and be chaste.
Women are then told that they “should not display their beauty and adornments except what must ordinarily appear” when they are around men to whom they are not related.
They are told