Page 126 - NP Zbornik 46_DRUGO REVIDIRANO IZDANJE

126 Ahmed A. Bihorac, Kemal Džemić, Historijska uloga zara...

Ahmed A. Bihorac
International University of Novi Pazar
Kemal Dzemic
International University of Novi Pazar

THE HISTORICAL ROLE OF NIQAB AND HIJAB IN
THE LIFE OF MUSLIM WOMEN OF SANJAK

Abstract: In the paper, we shall discuss on the author’s wish to present the
historical clothing of Muslim women, from the first recorded contacts with
Islam in this area until present days, giving a perspective of the views of Muslim
women who are, depending on the ruling political situation in the country, have
led constant struggles for their free choice and keeping of tradition. How much
the issue is acute even today and what type of hijab discrimination is present in
our, but also in numerous parts of the world, even after seven decades, testify
numerous unpleasant scenes, whose witnesses we are. The aim of our paper is
presentation of a very significant monograph that shall enlighten this less known
period in the history of the Muslim women in SFRY, and especially in Bosnia and
Sanjak. The author has offered, in one place, unselfishly, planned, systematically
and gradually, to the readership public numerous documents, precious data on
wearing a niqab, hijab, burqa and veil, being placed at the archives wide across ex-
Yugoslavia and the world, and also papers of numerous researchers dealing with
this area, but also of the authenticity of texts and records on abolition of niqab
and hijab. The value of this precious monograph is in a rich, neatly collected and
masterfully processed historical material and it undoubtedly tells on the wish of
a Professor Golos to scientifically enlighten this very interesting and significant
period of our history. By overcoming historical stereotypes, the author has served
the facts and original documents to, thanks to his professional, scientific and a
research approach, present as much as he could a real condition and to set real
bases for reconsidering of this issue, knowing the actors and witnesses of these
events are no longer among the living ones.
Key words: niqab, hijab, a Muslim woman, laws