Dutch as Such: “Delfts Blauw Meets Hijab”

Last updated on: November 24, 2010 at 12:00 am by nicole

Dutch as Such: “Delfts Blauw Meets Hijab” 2010-11-24T00:00:25-04:00 nicole

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Delfts blauw meets hijab” is the title of a new Dutch documentary analyzing the experience of female Dutch converts to Islam and, at the same time, exploring the compatibility (or lack of) between so-called “Dutch identity” with “Muslim values.” The documentary, created by Janina Pigaht, follows the experience of young Dutch women, Laura, Marion, Djamila, Anne-Marie and Elsa, who chose Islam in spite of an increasingly anti-Muslim sentiment in society.

As the director herself says, “Sometimes I think conversion is the new homosexuality. You’re better off saying at the kitchen table that you are a lesbian rather than a Muslim. “Topics from hijab, to family to Dutch identity are addressed in the preview clips. Laura, for example, in speaking about hijab, mentions that it is something she “always wanted to wear” and wondered what was stopping her from wearing it. For her, it was first her parents, then her job, then “the fears [she carried in herself].”

Marion (the tagline to her video reads, “Be who you are, and be accepted for who you are”) is asked, “Have you become Moroccan?” Anne-Marie’s clip was the most intriguing for me as she was “the non-hijabi.” Mentioning that people judge you when you wear hijab, the narrator asks if that played a role in her not wearing it any more, to which she agreed, and then said, ‘It is too much of an obstacle…that I felt, ‘I can do more than you think.’”

In her clip, Djamila, who coordinates a women’s shelter for converts called Stichting Taqwa, touches on the idea that Dutch families are against their daughters who convert. She said that the converts she met were “always complaining” about their home lives. As such, she decided to help these girls, as their website says, with temporary shelter and or mediation. Elsa’s (a UN youth representative) experience is unique in that she is a portrait of multicultural Holland: part Dominican, part Dutch and a Muslim convert.

In Europe, much of the press and public discourse about Muslim women rarely involves dialogue with the women themselves, in their own voices. In the politically charged post-Wilders landscape, Pigaht’s documentary is a welcome and crucial voice of Dutch Muslim women. Video excerpts (subtitled in English) from the documentary are available on the film’s website.

Cinema

Web

conversion

Delfts blauw meets hijab

Dutch Muslims

Muslim converts

Previous Post

November 23, 2010

Critical Mass of Badass: "Badass Muslimahs"

Next Post

November 25, 2010 The Doha Debates on The Burqa Ban

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advertisements Art/Theater Books/Magazines Cinema Comics/Cartoons Culture/Society Events Fashion Film Friday Links Merchandise/Commodities MMW Announcements MMW Highlights Music/Radio News Photography Politics Profile Ramadan 2012 Ramadan 2013 Ramadan 2014 Ramadan 2015 Roundtable Satire Social Media Sports Technology/Science Television Uncategorized Video Web

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jesus John Paul Peter