Talk:Burqa

Bangladesh

Burka, Burqa. This ia not limited to Afghanistan, It was also the Bengali term used in East Pakistan (Bangladeish) when I lived there (1965). It (to me) refers to the fully-sewn fully-enclosing (head and upper body or longer) womens clothing. Most have an eye port, usually covered with a lace fabric flap. Some are rather elaborate; though now used by poorer women, many are severely worn and tattered. In 1995, I was shocked to see almost no burqas (except worn by old women in Old Dhaka or remote villages). I was told that this was due to the revolutionary social reforms since the split from West Pakistan. Young girls, typically wore school uniforms in public.

See also the term Chador, which (in Iran, Farsi) was the simple (usually black and unsewn) sheet, thrown over the head, clasped at the neck, extending to the ground.

Chador vs. Burka

I'm not an expert on these things by any means, but isn't a chador different from an (afghan) burka? The article seems to suggest that it's just another word for it, but I don't think that's the case - or is it? -- Schnee 11:18, 19 Aug 2004 (UTC)

You are correct, per my experience in the late 1960's. In Iran, the Farsi term "Chador" referred to a usually black {sheet-like} cloth, thrown around the body over the head, clasped at the neck, like a flowing full body cape. Some women liked it as they could go out without "dressing up."

Whereas, to my experience the "Burka" was a sewn tan-colored garment enclosing the head and upper body, with a minimal face or eye opening, coverable with a lace flap. The Burkae-type garment was common in East Pakistan, (posssibly West Pakistan) and Afghanistan. I'm not sure of the Urdu (Pakistan) or Dari (Afghanistan) name. Perhaps someone more familiar with Mideast/Asian clothing and language can clarify these terms.

It is possible that the distinction in some areas may be based on class; with the Burka worn by poorer, less educated, more (rural) conservative women, and the Chador worn by more urban, educated upper class women. -- Visitor, 23 Oct 04

Comment by editor

I have removed the following sentences:

The term chadri needs to be defined when introduced. I think it is an older term for the Afgan burqa. A reference is www.worldviewmagazine.com/issues/article.cfm?id=77&issue=17 -

Matthews case

The Matthews case in Australia is very poorly explained. Judges do not "consult" experts. Evidence is produced in court by the parties. If there was evidence from "forensic handwriting examiners", whatever they are, why wasn't this produced in court? Be very careful of accusing a court of being wrong. Finally it is insulting to call the judge by surname alone. This entry is very clearer POV and quite bigoted.

Pauline Hanson

A previous edit I made regarding Pauline Hanson wearing a burqa into the Australian Senate for a second occasion was removed. I looked through the revision history but couldn't see any reason given for the removal. I'm new to regular editing, so I might have missed the reason for the removal, and it might have been because I failed to cite the edit properly. I've added another reference to Ms Hanson wearing the burqa in the Senate on a second occasion; if I've done this incorrectly per wikipedia policies please let me know. Lorelai Bennet (talk) 19:25, 7 February 2026 (UTC)

Merge into "Islamic female full-body cover" article

Please contribute to the discussion initiated at Talk:Çarşaf#Merge into "Islamic female full-body cover" article. Suggestion: primary topic in an "Islamic female full-body cover" article, with fork-offs for terms with sufficient material of their own. It's all one principle and general shape, with various applications. Arminden (talk) 09:11, 8 June 2026 (UTC)