Veiled Faces

The issue of women's rights that is presented in A Thousand Splendid Suns is the same issue that exists today in the Middle East.  Laila and Mariam are forced at first to wear a veil by their husband Rasheed and then by the Taliban as they begin to take over.  This is still true today in many muslim arab countries.  Both in the book and in life, this is done to preserve their purity and submissiveness.  This allows only their husband to see their body and keeps them from standing out to other people.  Since the Quoran says that women should preserve themselves and be modest, orthodox muslims who practice sharia law wear them in submission of Allah.  Men use this as a way of controlling women.  It is described by mariam and laila that it is very hard to move in the burkas and they feel more anonymity while wearing them.  In my opinion, nowadays, the hijab and burka are worn in order for men to control their wives better.  Before the Taliban took over, it was a choice to wear them.  When the Taliban moved in and wanted control they enforced sharia law and the women had to wear veils.  This compromises the ability of a woman to express herself because they all look the same.  It is a way of enforcing conformity and extinguishing individuality.  As soon as one gains their individuality they gain control of their lives and can therefore make their own decisions; the easiest way to gain control of a group of people is to force them to conform and follow rules, so they can not think for themselves.