Monday, August 25, 2008

Cool Pictures Of The Muslim Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem (Part 2/5)

This is round two of the pictures I found to be noteworthy on my trip last week through the Muslim and Christian Quarters of Old City, Jerusalem.  I decided to break them down into categories, really, and this post's focus is on the traditional headcovering of Arab women - the hijab, and in one case the niqab.


Part two:

Click on the pictures for a larger view!


A selection of hijabs.


Poster advertisement for yet another hijab and niqab store.
I thought it was pretty cool that I got a couple women in the
frame that had on the gear.  Too bad they're overexposed.


As far as I've seen, this is a rare sight here in Israel.  Seeing a
woman in full covering is something you'd expect to see more
in Baghdad than Jerusalem - even though the resident Muslims
can be quite religious.


And finally, just to balance the ledger, here's a very
normal Internet cafe in the Muslim Quarter.  These
Internet/computer sites have been targets of attacks
during the rougher times around these parts.  Apparently,
computers and the Internet symbolize the evil devils of the West.


6 comments:

Unknown said...

danny- you have no idea what that poster was an advertisement for- for all we know those two ladies could be singers advertising their new cd! can't wait to see more pictures! glad to see the reason you took pictures of rugs and internet cafes (weirdddd)

Israeli by Day said...

haha Marissa that's such a good point. Any Arabic readers know what that poster is an ad for? It was directly across from a headcovering store!

Anonymous said...

I am totally against the Israeli government allowing people to be out in public with birkas on. Anyone can be under that covering/ strapped with bombs!

Israeli by Day said...

"I am totally against the Israeli government allowing people to be out in public with birkas on."

That is actually something of a good point. On the one hand, however, Israel is a democracy with religious freedoms for all. Adherents to faiths that call for full body coverings are allowed to practice their faith through their dress.

On the other hand, Israel is plagued by terrorism. So, it would be quite possible for a country in Israel's position to ban certain modes of dress during "states of emergency."

However, Israel would NEVER do such a thing, which even I as a fairly right-leaning person abhors. France banned headcoverings in public places, so it's not some far away concept to imagine. It's just that Israel is so liberal, so progressive, so committed to religious freedom that we would never, even at the grip of terrorism, stop religious Muslim women from wearing burqas.

Quite the subject, though. It's not so cut and dry.

Anonymous said...

I am totally against what the other anonymous poster said. I think you're just being xenophobic, and it's that type of illogical thought that causes more friction between communities. Security IS paramount, but guess what? If anywhere near the majority, or even a significant amount, of bombings were caused by people who wore burqas, they would've been banned a LONG time ago. The fact is, you could strap a bomb or whatever under pretty much ANY type of clothing.

Anonymous said...

Also, I forgot to thank you, Danny, for the awesome pictures. Great job!