Over the past few months, the Muslim veil and the burkha have been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Over the past few months, the Muslim veil and the burkha have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. 
For once it's not the fundamentals who are forcing the burkha on women, but instead it's the liberals and modernists that are forcing women to take it off.
And that too in public!
The trend was pioneered by the French and soon other European nations followed suit.
The French government had first banned students from wearing religious insignia in schools and colleges. Then it went on to ban the burkha and the veil in public places, and forced women to bare their heads.
European nations have not kept in consideration the amount of money that rich Arab women spend
Earlier this month, Belgium became the first country in Europe to actually call for a vote to ban the burkha in public places.
Over 130 legislators stood up in the lower house and asked the nation to unveil its women. Talk about opening up!
Ironic as it may seem but France happens to have the largest Muslim population in Europe. And the country is now mulling to make the ban on burkha into a law in a couple of months.
Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands are also expected to tow the line and pass similar laws in their countries.
However, the one aspect that the European nations have not kept in consideration is the amount of money that super-rich Arab women splurge during their European holidays.
The largest bills, with astronomical figures, at fashion stores across France come from the Guccis and Louis Vuittons totting burkha-clad wives of oil-rich Sheikhs.
Consider banning the burkha in public places and all those millions of dollars will conveniently fly to another fancy store across the shore. Think of all the revenue that the fashion industry in Paris will stand to lose.
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No wonder, then that Great Britain has steered clear of the issue. After all, the burkha-clad women are one
of its greatest contributors to the tourism industry.
And with the Qatari royal family buying out Harrods, the palatial Knightsbridge store, for US $ 2.3 billion, the veiled women have another reason to keep London on their summer itinerary.
Parde mein rehne do, parda na uthao?
Waleed Hussain is Deputy News Editor, MiD DAY
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