During times of conflict with Islamic regimes, such as the recent war in Afghanistan, Western journalists and politicians tend to use the burqua (or veil) worn by some Muslim women as a symbol of oppression. They seem to suggest that, once these women have been freed from oppressive Islamic rule, they will immediately cast off their veils and rejoice in wearing the latest fashions of the West. In reality, however, this has not been the case.

In Women of Islam: Veiling and Seclusion, director Farheen Umar travels throughout Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and the USA to talk with Muslim women and challenge the assumptions about the practice of wearing veils. This landmark documentary explores the origins of these stereotypes and confronts misconceptions about the tradition of covering in Muslim society. crew:

Farheen Umar is an American-Muslim residing in San Diego. She is originally from Pakistan but moved to the USA seven years ago. Farheen’s education and early work experience is in Business Administration but her love of the visual medium propelled her to change her field and she is now an independent filmmaker with a passion for telling the truth about issues that the mainstream media tends to distort.