Police Director, Munnah Sieh, has warned the public including women from the Islamic faith, against wearing veil when moving on the streets or other public places in the country.

Director Sieh said at this time when terrorism is so high across the world, such a practice will not be tolerated in the country.

The female police chief issued the warning yesterday when she appeared as a live studio guest on the radio talk show 50-50, broadcast on SKY FM Radio.

Commenting further on the issue, Director Sieh said if a woman from the Islamic faith has a husband that is jealous for which, they usually wear veils, such a husband should make sure that he has everything in the house for his wife so that she can not get on the street wearing any veil.

She said this is a preventive measure as the practice of wearing veils may be used by others to cause problem for the public.

Director Sieh added that from now, the police would not tolerate the practice for the safety of the public and therefore admonished those identified with the practice to stay away from the public.

In keeping with the Holy Koran, the first justification: Sourat chapter 24 verse 31; it says that, " And tell the believing women to lower their gaze(from looking at forbidden things),and protect their private parts(from illegal sexual acts)and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent(like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hand or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head cover, apron, etc)and to draw their veils all over juyubihinna (i e, their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers ,or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their(Muslim)women(i e, their sisters-in-Islam),or the(female)slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex.

And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all. O believers, that you may be successful.

Also the second Justification: Sourat (chapter) 33(Al-Ahzab) verse 59;

Said, " O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i e, screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way) That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Muslim scholars, who spoke to this paper, said the practice is intended to prevent women from sexually attracting men who are not their husbands.

A Muslim cleric who spoke to this paper yesterday on the issue, described the wearing of the veil as a "Sunnah" or a way of life of the prophet Mohammed.

He said by wearing the veil, the Muslim women are obeying the Al-mighty Allah for following the footsteps of the prophet.

The Imam said that believers of the Holy Koran should follow the way of the prophet but pointed out that for not wearing the veil, a women will not be committing sin either nor will she be gaining any reward for doing so.

He added that from the way he sees it, the government or no other person should tell someone not to wear the veil as doing so is tantamount to telling believers not to follow the prophet Mohammed.

He added that such a decision contravenes freedom of conscience and secularism.

In a related development, Director Sieh has disclosed that plans are in the making to rearm the Liberian National Police for them to effectively fight crimes. She said 300 officers are being selected for the exercise and will possess firearms soon.

She said in addition to this, the authority of the LNP is working and collaborating with the relevant institutions to ensure that the badge system which was formerly used by the police is reintroduced so that all LNP officers can be properly identified by the public.

On the issue of street sellers reappearing on the street, Director Sieh warned the sellers not to take the recent exercise carried out by the police for granted.

She said the LNP stands ready to enforce the directive to the fullest and that those sellers in the habit of reappearing on the street will have the police to contend with.

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