Burning the veil: The Algerian war and the 'emancipation' of Muslim women, 1954–62 - Softcover

MacMaster, Neil

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0719087546 ISBN 13: 9780719087547

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2012

Synopsis

Burning the veil draws upon sources from newly-opened archives, exploring the ‘emancipation’ of Muslim women from the veil, seclusion and perceived male oppression during the Algerian War of decolonisation. The claimed French liberation was contradicted by the violence inflicted on women through rape, torture and destruction of villages. This book examines the roots of this contradiction in the theory of ‘revolutionary warfare’, and the attempt to defeat the National Liberation Front by penetrating the Muslim family, seen as a bastion of resistance.

Striking parallels with contemporary Afghanistan and Iraq, French ‘emancipation’ produced a backlash that led to deterioration in the social and political position of Muslim women. This analysis of how and why attempts to Westernise Muslim women ended in catastrophe has contemporary relevance and will be important to students and academics engaged in the study of French and colonial history, feminism and contemporary Islam.

About this title

About the Author:

Neil MacMaster is Honorary Reader in the School of Political, Social and International Studies at the University of East Anglia

About this edition

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0719087546
• ISBN 13: 9780719087547
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432