Sources have added that as debate continues to rage about the burkini and proposed “burqa bans” in Europe, research has shown that several Muslim-majority countries prefer women to have their faces and hair uncovered.
According to a survey by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, despite restrictive laws governing how women must dress in public, almost half of Saudi Arabians believe women should wear what they want.
Meanwhile a has study found that while residents of the country and several other Muslim-majority nations said veils covering the hair were “appropriate” in public, many supported increased freedom of dress.
Although the question related specifically to the burqa, which covers the entire face and hair with a mesh panel in front of the eyes, the veil is often confused with the niqab or hijab, which leave part or all of the face uncovered.
