[garinda]

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

If I remember correctly - the Koran states (bear in mind that there are so many translations of it, and it is all hearsay), women should clothe themselves modestly and cover their hair with veils, asathe sight of it can incite men to lust after them.
It is a long time since i read a translation of it so I may not be totally accurate - do we have any Muslin members who can tell us what is said in the Koran.

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed..." (Qur'an 33:59)

There's nothing in the Quran requiring women to cover their heads, arms, or legs. The edicts regarding Hijab were issued by later religious scholars. Just as many rules regarding Christianity came about centuries after it's founder's death.