Repeatedly, Muslim women have defied the stereotypes about niqab (Islamic face veil) by asserting that modest dress is their choice and a right they are fighting for with their governments, their societies, and yes, even their husbands. Many women who cover are actually converts to Islam; often, they are Anglo-European women who have embraced the Islamic principles of modesty.

Studies have shown that the majority of 2,000 women in France wearing niqab are converts, who voluntarily chose to don it. Despite being very vocal about their choices, the media and the politicians continue to ignore them and pass legislation, such as the French Niqab Ban, in isolation from the ground realities. Such laws are widely based on misconceptions that Islam is inherently oppressive to women.

Unfortunately, Muslims are partially to blame for these misconceptions. Many a time women in Muslim-majority countries are abused or mistreated in adherence to sexist cultural practices that are actually in violation of Islamic teachings. Muslim men need to understand and apply correct Islamic principles and root out these unjust and oppressive practices, while their female counterparts not only need more awareness about their rights and also implementation.

Additionally, Muslims in the West are not doing enough to explain the true teachings of Islam and differences in backwards cultural practices and religious rituals.
A significant portion of Europeans supports some type of ban and cannot understand why a woman would ever choose to cover herself. It is likely they see the practice as something foreign, backwards, and forcibly imposed. However, for me and many other western niqabis (women who wear the niqab), this could not be further from the truth.

Legislation banning the full face veil is presented under the auspice of protecting Muslim women and liberating them. For me this comes down to the freedom of choice.

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