Another great post!

Thee argument over the Burka and the veil (niqab) comes down to different translations of the Qur'an and hadith.

For example, in Qur'an 33:59, the key word is جُيُوبِهِن (juyubihinna). This word is translated inccorectly by supporters of the veil as 'face'. In fact, the word derives from an Arabic root which means neck or collarbone. Similarly, the word 'face' does not appear in the oft-cited hadith about Aisha (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60: 282). Wrongly translated the verse says that the women covered their faces when Qur'an verse 33:59 was revealed. The word which is mistranslated is 'fakhtamarnabiha' - which is derived from the word خمار (khimar). A khimar was a veil used to cover the neck and the top of the head.

How do we know it wasn't used to cover the face? In another important hadith narrated by Aisha (Abu Dawood, Book 2: 0641) we read that Muhammad said "Allah does not accept prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a khimar." It is well accepted by all Muslims that women are not allowed to cover their faces when they pray so the khimar can not be a veil used to cover the face.

Once again iratoinal behavior and the blind folowing of religoin ore annything go hand in hand. what is ironick is im sure the koran probably in places talkes about treeting all as equals just as most religons do.

eventualy truth always wins out. becuse truth is a natural avent that acures without human activity. the core of scince is the persute of truth. where as the core of religoin is the propgatoin of ideas some of whitch are unfounded and false.

One of my favorite parts is when she tells one of the fundamentalist hecklers to make sure that his sandals are on tight. such a kick-ass attitude.

What a cool chick.. Also, they play Street Hockey in Yemen.

As a Canadian that makes me proud

"the core of religoin is the propgatoin of ideas some of whitch are unfounded and false."

No the core of religion is spirituality, unity, harmony, respect for others, selflessness, charity - it is the bull crap built around these central beliefs which eventually distort the true teachings of all religions.

all kinds of brilliant. the most telling and dark part though was when they were interviewing that guy in the book shop who, without so much as flinching, matter of factly stated he would simply beat her if she were his sister.

A wonderful girl who seems to come from wonderful parents. The sad thing is she's a wonderful girl in the sort of place that may well kill her for being that way.

Either that or we will see more of her in the future.

I hope the latter.

Spoco2, please re-examine your world views. In that video did you see any person wishing harm upon this child? You think people are barbarians just because they are from the Middle East? Watching too much Fox News maybe?

This girl represents the majority not the minority view in the Middle East. As the old generations and the new generations clash with the ongoing modernization in the Middle East. And This is Yemen, one of the most poorest and most corrupt nations in the Middle East (not to mention highly intoxicated on khat). You should see how it is in Dubai or Kuwait.

Farhad2000: I got that view by the boy who said he'd beat her if he were her sister, from the soldier who stayed nice and close to her as she walked, by the men that expressed frustration at her views and lack of veil. Any society, not just from the Middle East, any society that is so closely bound with organised religion will tend to want to remove those that fly in its face.

That's why I said what I did.

And I don't watch Fox news, I despise what I've seen of it, which is very little what with me being Australian.

Farhad, in view of your suprisingly reactionary comment I present you this sift. http://www.videosift.com/video/BBC2-Execution-Of-A-Teenage-Girl

I think a concern for this girl's welfare and saftey is more than justified.

" "the core of religoin is the propgatoin of ideas some of whitch are unfounded and false."

No the core of religion is spirituality, unity, harmony, respect for others, selflessness, charity - it is the bull crap built around these central beliefs which eventually distort the true teachings of all religions."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I dont think thats true once u remove stuff like God ore the belife structuers and dogma that rnt bassed on annything, from a religoin then it is no longer a religoin and simply a way of thinking ore philisiphy that can be debated and looked at. this is the sole resoin scince and philisphy are so important and religoin usless

she's so cool...

*documentaries

Adding video to channels (Documentaries) - requested by Fedquip.

*promote

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Monday, March 26th, 2007 3:14pm PDT - promote requested by evil_disco_man.

This was originally included in McSweeney's Wholphin video series, Volume 3.

http://www.wholphindvd.com/

Wow. Smart, tough, and wise beyond her years. I wish her the best.

Notice how early in the clip, it is said that the veil serves as an IDENTITY for these women? Seriously? If anything, it's the complete opposite. Covering up any possibility recognition, hiding behind a mask, being subordinate to their male peers... If anything, they are throwing away their identity, and willingly so. So sad.


"Death to the Americans and the Jews?" "Curses on the Jews and victory to Islam?"

Is Islam really so barbaric and evil that they'd want to sound like a Nazi regime? Holy shit. VICTORY?! Nobody is attacking them. They aren't defending themselves against a hostile enemy. They're fighting a self-waged war where they are the only fighters and they merely have many victims. If the Muslim religion ever possessed any semblance of good, it certainly does not now; at least not in this poor region of the world.

You'd think this kind of mentality could not survive--that the inevitable result would be the eventual extinction of this way of thinking. The fact of the matter is, however, that this kind of thing has been happening for thousands of years with this particular religion. Until the collective mentality starts moving in a direction where individuals like this girl are the norm, rather than the exception, willful ignorance, belligerence, and violence birthed by this backward state of mind will never come to a conclusion.

I worry for our species.

*teens

Adding video to channels (Teens) - requested by alien_concept.

This has just become the best video I have in my channel

Tags for this video have been changed from 'brave, veil, documentary, najmia' to 'brave, veil, documentary, najmia, khadija al salami' - edited by burdturgler

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by burdturgler.

Wait a second, can anyone verify that she's actually saying what's subtitlted? Any translators around?

{PS* "We've received a bunch of emails requesting an update on Nejmia, the subject of Khadija Al-Salami's incredible documentary, "A Stranger In Her Own City." Well here's the news, some very inspired subscribers have begun the process of establishing a college fund for her. If you would like to help the coolest 13 year old girl in the world attend college, please contact acquaintance@wholphindvd.com. Subject heading: "Nejmia." }

-or, someone who thinks the rain forest can be saved, or that whaling will ever stop, or one who can sleep better knowing they have a picture of a kid from Shlaboombi on thier fridge with a $9.95 one time gift, can go and masturbate in a mirror...same effect.

i hope and pray that some oppressive extremist person(s) do no harm to her. she seems like a valuable person in the islamic community.

*doublepromote

Double-Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Saturday, July 11th, 2009 7:37pm PDT - doublepromote requested by rasch187.

Wow this was at least three years ago I wonder how shes doing now?

From the liner notes to the film:

"Q: First and foremost—a year later—how and where is Nejmia? Do you keep in touch with her? What is she like now? What has been the effect of this documentary on Nejmia? On the town?

KHADIJA AL-SALAMI: Seven months after shooting the film, Nejmia’s father stopped her from going to school and ordered her to wear the veil. A year later, this film won first prize at the Beirut Film Festival. The president of Yemen was visiting France at that time and heard about the prize. He asked me to show him the film. I thought he would not like it because it shows society looking down on women, but I was wrong. He was drawn by Nejmia’s personality, and at the end of the film he asked me to tell Nejmia’s family that he would like to pay for her education. I was very happy to hear that and thought that was the best prize I could ever get for the film. Now, Nejmia is back at school. I think it is the most important element for a better and independent future. The more a woman is educated, the more she knows her rights and is able to defend them, the more useful she will be to her family and to society as a whole. The film was not screened on Yemeni TV because they are not accustomed to such controversial subject matter."