The
burqa is a
garment that covers a woman from head to toe, with only a slit in the cloth or a light mesh through which she can see. It is worn by
Muslim women in some parts of the world, most notably in
Afghanistan and parts of
Pakistan. The burqa is usually dark blue or black, and it may be
embroidered or lined with
silk.
The burqa is a garment of
modesty. It grew out of the much older practice of women wearing a
hijab, or
veil, over their hair. The
Koran instructs women to cover their hair with a veil/
scarf in order to downplay their
sexuality. The burqa is not required by the Koran, but some Muslims have taken the logic of the hijab to an extreme in the search for modesty.
It should be pointed out that some Muslim women wear a burqa by choice, not under threat or coercion.