"Fifa appears ready to fix football's Hijab issue once and for all"
"In June this year, the Iran women's national team forfeited an Olympic qualifier after they were not allowed to wear head scarves, but will episodes like this soon become history?"

 By Niloufar Momeni at Goal.com -- photo from Goal.com

Will this be a proof text for others now, that hijab - literally, modesty in dress - is not merely a religious statement, and will not hamper the exercise of a sport or other activity in every day life?  Will women who wear modest clothing, including head coverings, be accepted as women who choose to dress more modestly, and not as religious nuts or subservient nobodies who quiver before tyrannical male masters?  Oh, wouldn't it be lovely?


And how interesting that it is FIFA who may be leading the way for women of the world, considering that they represent "the beautiful game"?  More power to them, and to women who actually enjoy sport. 

Actual wording, as of this state in the game:

  "In a recent seminar funded by Asian Football Development Project commission, all participants, including Fifa vice-presidents, agreed on a proposal that “Hijab is not a religious symbol or statement and rather is in abidance with culture, and discrimination and exclusiveness of players are to be avoided because of cultural costumes. While safety of Hijab should be considered a priority for Fifa, further medical studies are needed with Fifa co-ordination, in regards to aesthetic arguments and type of material.”"

Maybe women volley ball players will decide that it's okay to wear clothes now?  Well,  it's a wish... .

How to sew a Christian veil

Please, go to this lady's videos for numerous helpful and sweet videos to help you make and wear your own simple head coverings, as well as learn other sewing tips.   Her website, for more information on these headcoverings and other modest issues, is : http://www.covered4him.com/ She offers head coverings of various styles for sale as well. Because of this, she notes at her website "10-21-10 Please note: Due to my personal convictions I will not sell coverings to someone if I know they will be used for costuming purposes for Halloween. There may be cases where I wouldn't mind a costume in general as long as it is used in a Godly and respectful way...but a Halloween costume is not among them. I do not mean to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, but I am adamantly opposed to that holiday and what it stands for. I prefer that my covering sewing time be used for making coverings that are to be worn for Biblical purposes. This is obviously something that must be on your individual honor as I do not always know what a person may place their order for. It only just occurred to me that someone might wish to order for that reason and I just felt led to post this as a policy, especially as it is that time of year."

You can read her own words here: "Headcovering Testimony," By Mrs. Eleanor R. McDonie.

Headcovering is Not a Costume

Dr. Faheem Younus, Adjunct Faculty for Religion at CCBC and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at U MD, writes some thoughtful comments on head covering as pertains to this part of the year, that is, Halloween, and how it applies to the education of hijab other times in the year as well, in: "Hijab is Not a Halloween Costume."(HuffingtonPost.com)  Find a neat short list of questions and answers about hijab as well.

I always find myself reading articles like these and thinking how easily the words could be replaced by other women who choose to cover, specifically Christians who wear headcovering and dress modestly too.

As usual, be aware that comments below articles are not written unbiasedly or politely.  This one has so many comments that I wish I could answer... if only I knew that those who wrote the comments would listen.  Let's keep educating others while we maintain our faith and modesty.

Nobel Peace Prize recognises women rights activists

"BBC News - Nobel Peace Prize recognises women rights activists"

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to three women - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman of Yemen.

They were recognised for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work".

Mrs Sirleaf is Africa's first female elected head of state, Ms Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist and Ms Karman is a leading figure in Yemen's pro-democracy movement.

"We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women achieve the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society," said Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland in Oslo.

Reading from the prize citation, he said the committee hoped the prize would "help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realise the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent".

Read more about these women at this link.

In Her Own Words, To Cover in Court

"An Expression of Faith" - a short essay in the ACLU's blog, attached to their website, written from the point of view of that headscarf wearing woman who tried to enter a public courtroom, back in 2008, in Douglasville, Georgia, USA.  I have read numerous articles about and referencing this situation, and found it nice to read the woman's own words.  Her situation was one of those "shots heard round the world" regarding those head coverings, faith, women's rights, modesty, and proper court behaviour in the United States.  Because of the denial to her to enter the courtroom with a head scarf, and her subsequent arrest and detainment in jail, much attention was brought towards Islam and toward this lowly headscarf, though both are still much misunderstood because of the various understandings and practices of the wide variety of people who follow this faith and tradition.  As a result:

In July 2009, the Georgia Supreme Court Commission adopted a policy drafted by the ACLU regarding the treatment of religious head covering. Additionally, a civil lawsuit was filed against the city and the police officers that were involved in my arrest. We recently settled this lawsuit out of court and the city has adopted a head covering screening policy which in part states that head coverings for religious or medical reasons may be allowed in courtrooms, and if a security search is deemed required, the individual wearing the head covering may have the inspection performed in a private place by a same-sex officer.

We've come a good way in the US and in many other places, explaining the reasons for these head coverings, and correcting misunderstandings and prejudicial behaviour.  But we still have far to go, as head covering women and those who love them, for there are still many misunderstandings, prejudgements and misgivings - on both sides of the cover/uncover fence.  If practicing Muslim women are kept from dressing in a way that their faith proclaims as modest and respectful, then so also will modest, traditional Jews, Christians and other women who choose to cover up in modesty or from respect or devotion be ridiculed, misunderstood, and maybe even mistreated or "disrobed" (to use the term used in the above linked article). Please keep studying, sharing and encouraging.  We who wear those headcoverings will certainly appreciate it.

See also http://times-georgian.com/bookmark/15935582-City-settles-suit-and-adopts-new-policy-over-religious-headgear  for news on this story.

Looking for Your Headcovering Blog Articles

Attention Reader-Writers:  I would like to gather a listing of links for bloggers and writers who have an article about head covering, either from a personal experience or from a study that you've done.  When I first began really studying about head covering as a serious expression of my faith, the more I read, the more I found myself able to come to a conscious, confident decision.  I was amazed at the number of personal testimonials, research reports, and even fashion guides and how-to's that I was able to find from non-professional sources online, in addition to the already well-written articles and studies provided by different religious organizations, books and individual leaders from various backgrounds.

If you have written an article about the head covering for your own blog, or organizational blog or website, please send me a link that I can share here on the ThoseHeadcoverings blog, and maybe in the future, on my ThoseHeadcoverings website (when I figure out how to update the google pages or finally move everything to another website host).

Note to remember:  I do include information on my blog and in my website from a variety of sources, some of which you, or I, may not completely agree with.  I don't want anyone to think that just because a wide variety of people believe in wearing a covering on their head means that we agree that everything else that everyone else does is acceptable to everyone.  For example, it does not mean that they will agree on many articles and foundations of spiritual faith, from the widest differences (such as pointed out in my main "categories" of Christian, Islam, and Jewish), down to the slighter differences in regional cultures and traditions (such as, say, conservative to more liberal or moderate groups).  I may write about how I understand things and how the covering is important to me, and I will share the outlooks of others who are willing to share how they see the cloth upon the head, and what it means to them.  It does not mean that we are condemning anyone who does not agree with us.  We are not in a position to condemn or to judge others.  We are only in a position to follow our conscience as our study and experience guides us.  We hope that by sharing with others, that we can encourage you continue seeking the truth and obeying the truth, not merely getting by on what is right in our own eyes, or what feels good to do.  The more we live, the more we learn, and the more we learn, the more we realize: the less we know (somewhat of a quote from a song in the movie "Yentl").  May you keep learning and living, and may you be encouraged by what you read here.  Thank you for listening.

LisaM

Etsy Headcovering Shops

Here are some neat Etsy shops that make and provide ladies' headcoverings. Click on the names of the stores to go to their sites.

These were sent to me in response to my request in the last post. I am aware that some online shops come and go, and that there are other shops out there, and so I had hoped to hear from other shop owners. If you would like to send a link to your store in the comments here, please do. There are many ladies looking for shops like yours!

Kudos to Devorah, Cam and Alana for their good works. I wonder if maybe there are others out there who are wondering if making up a store or website would be something you would like to try. What do you think?

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DevorahChannah

Welcome to Headcoverings by Devorah™! An online source for unique & traditional custom made Scarves, Snoods, Veils, Hair Wraps, Shawls, Kippot & Judaic Art!

Perfect for Synagogue, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Wedding Guests, Candle Lighting, Kiddish, all Religious and Traditional Occasions. Also makes attractive, comfortable and soft coverings for those with hair loss due to cancer, chemotherapy, alopecia, trichotillomania and other medical conditions.

I invite you to try a better way of wearing head coverings without the hassle of pins and clips and constantly tugging at the covering due to slippage! My unique cording & lace ties works well to size the covering snugly to prevent slipping without the hassle of using pins and clips while adding a beautiful & elegant touch!

I personally make each and every covering, and each is made from only the best quality of fabrics to ensure comfort, durability and the finest of design.

*Have a question about an item? I can be reached by email periodically during the following hours (CST): Sun. - Wed. 9am to 6pm, Thurs. 1pm - 9pm, Friday - 9am to 12pm

Offline Shabbat (Friday evening - Saturday evening) & all Jewish Holidays.

Website: http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com

Join my FACEBOOK page for Exclusive offers!
http://www.facebook.com/HeadcoveringsByDevorah

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asnoodforallseasons

Welcome to A Snood For All Seasons, a shop filled with beautiful handmade headcoverings! My snoods are sewed by machine and finished by hand!

So take a look around and if you have a snood in mind that you don't see than feel free to send me a message and I'll create a custom snood just for you!

This Etsy shop also has snoods for girls, and patterns to make your own!

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FreeToCover

This sweet shop has mantillas and fan fold head coverings and scarves.

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Also see 13 Plum Knitted at Etsy for a few other head covers. This address was sent to me a while back, and the knitter has changed up her Etsy shop a bit, but search for the "hair accessories" in her shop. :)

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EDITED IN:

SowersofHope 

"A Headcovering Boutique"

I apologize to Sowers of Hope for leaving them out of this list; their little link picture is in my sidebar, and has been for a while, but when I put this short list together, I forgot somehow to include this neat Etsy shop!   This store includes: Bethany Veils, Chemo Cancer Hair Loss Covers, Extra Wide Headbands, Amish Kapps and Mob Caps, Miriam Convertible (a fan type folded head band), Snoods, and Tichels, along with Modest Clothes too.

See also the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sowers-of-Hope-Headcovering-Boutique/133659983367684#!/pages/Sowers-of-Hope-Headcovering-Boutique/133659983367684

and the Sowers of Hope blog:  http://sowersofhope.blogspot.com/

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GarlandsOfGrace

Another pretty headcovering Etsy shop with many kerchief scarves, wide headbands to choose from, suggested by a Dear Reader.  See also http://www.garlandsofgrace.com/  and  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garlands-of-Grace/117793814917755

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ReginaCoeliCreations

Delena sent me her link a few months ago:    http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReginaCoeliCreations

"A wife to an amazing man and mother to three beautiful children. Lover of God and all things traditional who is on a modesty crusade. All snoods are handmade by me in a smoke-free and pet-free household. I can also make a custom-made snood for you if you have a particular fabric in mind that you don't see in the shop. Please note that it might take a little longer to receive your custom-made snood."

Attention Etsy Headcovering Shops!!!

Please post to this blog article with a link to your Etsy shop, and I will post a collection of links in an article here soon. Please also let me know if I may include a sample photo of your work here, as well as any other particular information about the head coverings that you provide at your site that you would like to share with those who would otherwise not know about you.

If you know of an Etsy shop that you would recommend, write and let me know that too.

This is because I want to help people to understand and be encouraged about wearing those headcoverings. I don't get compensated usually when I share information here. Maybe I should write an e-book?

Thank you in advance!

"Looser" Security Rules in Nashville, TN - Troubles Elsewhere

"Metro Departments Change Policy Toward Religious Head Coverings"
The above article link is from the Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) website, dated August 16, 2011. Apparently, the rules are changing in Tennessee: "Metro Nashville is loosening some of its security policies toward religious head coverings." Read this short article to find out what's changed and what's acceptable now in this area, and perhaps what things will look like in other areas in the USA.

meanwhile...

"Catholic schools in Kenya prohibit Muslim head covering",
in the Anglican Journal, reports that conflict arises in a Catholic school in Nairobi, Kenya, wishing to uphold its Catholic traditions and dress codes when Muslim students attend classes. How serious are the conflicts:

Muslim leaders have been urging the government to help end the Christian schools' ban. The leaders warn of serious repercussions if rights and freedoms are denied Muslim girls and women.

The Muslim leaders accuse the church schools of discriminating against their students on religious and cultural grounds, but church leaders say they have provided spaces and water for the students to practice Muslim worship rituals.

"Moodbidri: Student Denied Permission to Wear Headscarf, Approaches DC"
Daijiworld.com reported August 10, 2011, of a young woman in university who was told she could not attend class with a headscarf, or hijab, in Western India. Apparently, it's okay to wear burka even on campus, but no head coverings in class. At the time of the writing, the issue was not solved, but the student had not been able to attend class because she refused to go without her head covered.