Saudi women are 'stepping on niqabs' in yet another online movement

In recent years, Saudi women have worked up the courage to speak up against the kingdom's customs and traditions, which limit most women's personal freedoms. In doing so, they have witnessed a number of fights materialize into real change.

The niqab, otherwise known as the face-veil, is a matter that has been raised by Saudi women numerous times online. In recent years, it has stirred a lot of controversy, with decisions to ban the face-veil becoming all the more common across many European countries.

The face-veil is especially customary in parts of the Arab Gulf countries. However, contrary to common belief, it is not a requirement by law, not even in Saudi Arabia.

As per Saudi law - which is based on a fundamentalist interpretation of Sharia law - women, both foreign and local, must wear an abaya when out in public spaces, and locals must wear a hijab in some parts of the kingdom, including the capital city Riyadh.

Customs and traditions in Saudi Arabia have pushed many families to enforce the face-veil on their daughters. Subsequently, women in the kingdom are putting up a cultural fight, rather than a legal one. 

On Wednesday, women in Saudi Arabia began an online movement under the Arabic Twitter hashtag "the niqab under my foot" - which saw many speak up against the tradition.

This wouldn't be the first time Saudi women shout "niqab doesn't represent me" online in a bid to see change.

In September, Taraf Alasiri posted a photo of herself without a niqab and hijab, sparking a movement on Twitter. 

"I cut my hair and removed the niqab ... and I wondered why I've been covering my face this whole time. I realized it's because of silly habits and traditions that don't allow me to be free," Alasiri wrote on Twitter at the time.

Women have even taken their movements offline. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Girls' Education sparked a debate after appearing in public without a niqab. Haya Al Awad's personal choice was heavily criticized at the time.

However, many defended the Deputy Minister's choice, including a few Saudi clerics who said the niqab isn't compulsory in Islam and it's a matter still open to research and discussion. In 2017, a young Saudi lawyer was kicked out of a courthouse in Riyadh because she wasn't wearing a face veil.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was interviewed by journalist Norah O’Donnell. During the interview with U.S. television channel CBS News, MBS said - among other things - that Sharia law does not require women to wear the hijab and abaya.

He explained that Sharia law only requires women to dress modestly, as it also does for men.

"The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men," the prince said.

"This, however, does not particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear," he added.