WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF TO THE CONTRARY: MUSLIM WOMEN IN AMERICA.

FIRST, WHAT LURES YOUNG ISLAMIC WOMEN INTO TERRORISM?

THEN BEHIND THE HEADLINES: IS CHOOSING TO WEAR THE HIJAB BECOMING FEMINIST?

AND ISLAMIC WOMEN PUSHING TO DISCUSS SEX MORE OPENLY.

[♪♪♪] HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

IN THIS EDITION WE FEATURE AN ALL-MUSLIM PANEL.

UP FIRST WOMEN AND GLOBAL TERRORISM.

MORE AND MORE WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE PARTICIPATING IN TERRORIST AND EXTREMIST GROUPS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE TREND---THAT INFORMATION FROM A REPORTER FOR THE VOICE OF AMERICA QUOTING LEADING EXPERTS SPEAKING AT THE US INSTITUTE FOR PEACE.

COERCION WAS CITED AS THE PRIMARY REASON MOST WOMEN JOIN VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUPS, OTHER REASONS CITED WERE WOMEN SEEK A SENSE OF IDENTITY AND BELONGING.

ONE EXPERT NOTED YOUNG WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO BELONG TO FAMILIES FROM NON-WESTERN COUNTRIES TEND TO SUFFER FROM IDENTITY CRISES.••MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO ALLURING SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES AND IMAGES FROM TERRORIST PITCHES.

WE SHOULD NOTE "A TOTAL OF 80 U.S.

RESIDENTS WERE LINKED TO TERRORISM MOTIVATED BY ISLAMIC EXTREMISM IN 2015, REPRESENTING A NEARLY 200 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR---THAT FROM THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.

MEANWHILE, THE CITADEL, SOUTH CAROLINA'S PRESTIGIOUS PUBLIC MILITARY COLLEGE, BARRED A FEMALE MUSLIM STUDENT FROM WEARING A HIJAB.

>> WELCOME BACK TO THE PANEL.

WHO IS WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRLS?

U.S. CULTURE OR ISIS.

>> U.S. MUSLIM GIRLS LIKE A LOT OF WOMEN ARE SAYING THOSE ARE NOT OUR ONLY TWO OPTIONS.

THEY ARE CREATING THEIR OPEN CULTURE AND TRYING TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

>> I AGREE.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE DIVERSITY THEY CANNOT FIT INTO A BOX OR TWO BOXES.

>> WE HAVE ALL THE OPTIONS AND THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MUSLIM AMERICAN WOMEN ARE INFLUENCED BY ALL OVER GLOBAL POLICIES.

THERE IS NO ONE FACTOR.

>> MY CONCERN IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR IS WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MUSLIM WOMEN WE HAVE THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR GULF STATES THAT IS TRYING TO PUT SCARVES ON OUR HEADS AND CONTROL WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE WORLD IN A VICTIM CULTURE.

>> WHY DO YOU SAY QATAR?

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE RECOGNIZED FOR 40 YEARS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF SAUDI ARABIA HAS BOSTON POLICE EXPORTING A DISTURBING ININTERPRETATION OF ISLAM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR HAS BEEN EXPORTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF THEIR EDUCATION MATERIAL AND PROPAGANDA AND I FIND IT DISTURBING IN A WAY IN WHICH IT IS CREATING A NARRATIVE THAT IS VERY ANTI-WEST, ANTI-AMERICAN, AND VERY PRO ISLAMIST.

>> IS THIS WHERE -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ISIS GOT ITS FUNDING FROM SAUDI ARABIA.

RIGHT?

NOT FROM QATAR?

>> QATAR HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THIS EXTREMISM FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS AND VERY MUCH TO THE SORT OF IGNORANCE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ONE OF OUR DISTURBING FACTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS WE HAD AN F.B.I.

AGENT LAND IN QATAR YEARS AGO, TO PICK UP MOHAMMED THE GOVERNMENT PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED HIM AND HE ESCAPED AND 9/11 HAPPENED.

THESE ARE THE DETAILS IN HISTORY THAT WE ARE IGNORING.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT MUSLIM WOMEN ARE ONE OF THOSE COMMODITIES THAT THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CONTROL.

>> YOU HAVE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHOW ABOUT GIRLS AND TERRORISM.

I FIGURE, I SEE YOU AS THE WORLD'S EXPERT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE YOU YOURSELF WERE RECRUITED BY PREDECESSORS OF ISIS ON-LINE IN THE LATE 90s.

>> YOU ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON-LINE TRYING TO TARGET AND LEAD TO THE EXTREMISM.

>> IS THAT WORKING AS WELL OR ARE EFFORTS TO THWART THAT HAVING AN EFFECT?

>> THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION AND THE PROBLEMATIC AREA IN TERMS OF THE DESCRIPTION IS THAT YOU ARE FALLING INTO THE TRASH ISIS.

THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE YOUNG WOMEN DO NOT HAVE BRAINS.

NO AMOUNT OF MONEY OR COOPTING IS BRAINWASHING THE WOMEN.

THEY ARE INTELLIGENT AND EMPOWERED.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE CAMPS WHETHER IT'S IN KENYA OR SYRIAN CAMP IN JORDAN AND TURKEY AND NONE OF THE WOMEN HAVE LUXURY OF VICTIMHOOD AND THEY ARE MAKING CHOICES.

>> LIKE THE 300 GIRLS KIDNAPPED?

>> THE -- AGAIN I'M TALKING ABOUT WOMEN THE SURVIVORS WHO GET OUTSIDE OF CONFLICT.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE ZONE THOSE WOMEN KIDNAPPED I'M SURE YOU HAVE INTERACTED WITH THE WOMEN WHO ESCAPED.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF VICTIMHOOD THEY ARE FINDING WAYS TO REINTEGRATE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> THEY ARE SPEAKING OUT AND ORGANIZING AFTER BEING SEX SLAVES FOR ISIS FOR 13 MONTHS.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRLS THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR AUDIENCE AND TO THIS COUNTRY.

YOU BOTH AGREED THAT THEY ARE STARTING THEIR OWN CULTURE THEY ARE NOT REALLY ADOPTING U.S. CULTURE AND THEY ARE NOT BUYING INTO ISIS EITHER.

IS THAT GOOD?

STILL IF THEY ARE DEVELOPING A CULTURE THAT IS SEPARATE FROM NORMAL AMERICAN TEENAGE GIRLS OF ALL KINDS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, HOW GOOD IS IT FOR MUSLIM GIRLS TO HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURE?

>> IT'S WEIRD WHEN YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT MUSLIM.

BECAUSE I AM AN AMERICAN MUSLIM NOW.

AND I SEE AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRLS ALL THE TIME.

I AM AN AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN.

NOT A GIRL ANYMORE.

BUT MY DAUGHTER IS.

AND I DON'T KNOW SHE IS IN SOCCER PRACTICE.

EVERYONE IS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WHAT IS AND HAING ON THE INTERNET TO MAYBE MUSLIM GIRLS THAT DO NOT FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG?

DON'T WE ALL GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS IN OUR TEENS.

>> ALL IMMIGRANT KIDS DO, ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU LOOK AT WOMEN OF COLOR THE BLACK WOMEN MOVEMENT CREATED THEIR OWN THING AND LATINAS, I THOUGHT I WAS BLACK IN SOUTHBOUND SOUTH CAROLINA AND I LANDED IN THE ERA OF CONFUSION.

>> IDENTITY AND THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA WHY AMERICA IS SO DIVERSE.

>> AS A YOUNG MUSLIM AMERICAN WOMAN I WAS NOT INFLUENCED BY QATAR AT ALL.

I COULDN'T CARELESS WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

I GREW UP HERE AND WE ADOPTED SOME OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

SOME LIKE WE READ TEEN MAGAZINES AND WE GREW UP WITH THAT AND WE HAD OUR MUSLIM ROOTS.

WE WOULD GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR OUR FAMILIES BROUGHT UP OUR TRADITIONAL.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT IS NOT ABOUT PEOPLE BEING BRAIN DEAD IT'S THE DISTURBING PART THIS IS THE CONVERSATION ALSO ABOUT TERRORISM AND THIS IS THE SERIOUS CONVERSATION THAT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FASHION SHOWS AND THE OTHER IDEAS.

THERE ARE MUSLIM WOMEN BEING RECRUITED BY VERY SERIOUS RADICALIZATION EFFORTS THAT ARE DIRECTED FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IDENTIFY LOGS AND THE CHOICE IS DISTURBING.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE INTENTION NATIONALLY CHOOSING THIS.

AND IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT RADICALIZATION BUT TO ME THE NORMALIZATION OF VERY PURE TAN CALC VALUES.

WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION BUT THE INCREASING ACCEPTANCE OF THE HEAD SCARF AND THE IDEA THAT WOMEN ARE THE CARRIERS OF MORALITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S DISTURBING TO ME.

>> WEARING A HEAD SCARF DOES NOT LEAD YOU TO JOIN.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAID.

>> WHETHER -- >> YOU ARE USING IT AS AN INDICATOR.

>> I WAS SAYING IS THAT THESE RADICALIZATION EFFORTS INCLUDE THE HEAD SCARF.

WHAT DOES BOKO HARAM DO?

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THEY COULD?

THEY PUT A SCARF ON WOMEN.

>> WAIT.

NOBODY CAN HEAR YOU WHEN EVERYBODY TALKSISM THE IDEA OF TRYING TO FRAME IT AS DANGEROUS THIS IDEA THAT TRYING TO CONFLATE IT TOGETHER AS IF IT IS ARGUMENT THAT I AM MAKING THAT THE HEAD SCARF THAT MAKES YOU A TERRORIST WHY WOULD I BE SITTING NEXT TO YOU IF I BELIEVE THAT?

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT.

I KNOW THAT THE IDEOLOGY OF POLITICAL I LIMIT EXPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF SAUDI ARABIA AND QATAR INCLUDES PART OF THE FORMULA FOR THE MUSLIM GIRL AND THE WOMEN THE HEAD SCARF AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO CONFLATE AS IF YOU WERE WEAR THE HEAD SCARF THAT MEANS THAT YOU EMBRACE THAT IDEA.

I'M SAYING THAT IT IS A IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND I WOULD -- >> WE'LL GET TO THAT.

>> DO NOT MISREPRESENT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

>> UNDERSTOOD AND WE WILL GET TO THAT IN THE SECOND SEGMENT.

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, ARE YOUNG GIRLS WHEN THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO WEAR THE HEAD SCARF WHETHER BY THEIR FAMILY, BY THEIR MOM, BY WHATEVER, ARE YOU SAYING THAT IS A PATHWAY TO BEING LURED INTO TERRORISM?

>> NO.

THAT IS WHAT I'M NOT SAYING.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THOSE THAT WANT TO RECRUIT GIRLS AND WOMEN USE THIS MECHANISM.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT PEOPLE WHO PUT THE SCARF ON ARE PUTTING IT ON THAT PATHWAY.

I DO NOT WANT THIS REVERSED.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT ISIS WANTS TO PUT A SCARF ON EVERYONE OF OUR HEADS IF NOT A FACE VEIL.

YOU EXPRESSED DISTURBANCE AT SEEING A WOMAN IN A FULL FACE VEIL.

AND THAT IS THE IDEOLOGY THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND IF YOU WANT TO MISREPRESENT WHAT I'M SAYING SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION I FIND THAT MORE DISTURBING THAN HAVING THE CONVERSATION.

>> BACK TO TERRORISM.

>> WHAT I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN BEFORE WE WENT ON THAT TOPIC WHICH IS DIFFERENT IS THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WHAT I THINK WHAT YOU ARE CONFLATING IS SCARF OR NON-SCARF BUT RECRUITING FROM ISLAMIC LAW.

WHEN ISIS COMES IN ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IS ENFORCING THE SCARF IN THE MOST HARSHEST TERMS.

BUT WHAT THEY DO WITH RECRUITMENT THEY HAVE A POWERFUL MESSAGING IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU LIVE IT MATTERS HOW YOU DIE.

AND THEY SHOW WOMEN IN CLUBS WHEN WOMEN SHOW MEN WHO ARE DOING DRUGS AND SAY LIVE THE WAY YOU WANT AND THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM RECRUITMENT.

THEY ARE SAYING IF YOU WANT TO REDEEM YOURSELF WHAT BETTER WAY OF A SUICIDE BOMBING.

DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU LIVE IT MATTERS HOW YOU DIE.

SO THE STRATEGIES TARGETING WOMEN IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN LIVING UNDER THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY AS AN AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN I STARTED WEARING THE SCARF BECAUSE MY FRIENDS WERE WEARING IT.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL TO TRY IT AND IT BECAME PART OF MY IDENTITY.

IT WAS NOT BECAUSE PERSON IN QATAR REACHED OUT TO ME.

>> AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THE QURAN SAYS?

>> NO.

MY MOM DID NOT COVER UP.

I STARTED WEARING IT BECAUSE IT WAS COOL AND THE THING TO MAKE MY OWN IDENTITY IN THE COUNTRY AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND MUSLIM AMERICAN GIRLS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE DEBATE OVER WHEN AND WHERE WOMEN CAN BE VEILED IS CERTAINLY INTENSIFYING.

TO THE CONTRARY WENT BEHIND THE HEADLINES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DECISION ISLAMIC WOMEN MAKE WE SPOKE TO TWO JOURNALISTS WITH OPPOSING IDEOLOGIES.

THEIR VIEWS LEAD ONE TO WONDER IS THE CHOICE TO WEAR OR NOT WEAR THE HIJAB A FEMINIST ISSUE?

>> IT'S A REAPPROPRIATION OF SORT OF SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF A RELIGION BUT FOR THE WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO WEAR THE HIJAB WHO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AS ADULTS, THEY SORT OF REJECT A VERY LUCRATIVE NOTION THAT WOMEN'S POWER RESIDES IN THEIR SEXUAL ALLURE.

>> JOURNALIST HANNA YUSUF BEGAN WEARING HER HIJAB AT THE AGE OF 21 FOLLOWING FOUR YEARS OF RESEARCH AND CONTEMPLATION.

HER VIDEO SPARKED CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EFFECT WESTERN CULTURE HAS ON THE HEAD SCARF.

HANNA YUSUF SAYS HER DECISION TO WEAR A HIJAB DID NOT STEM FROM OPPRESSION.

>> I HAVE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE UNDERMINING MY ABILITIES AND MY CHOICES BECAUSE THEY ASSUME THAT I CANNOT THINK FOR MYSELF OR I AM OPPRESSED AND SOMEONE ELSE IS MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR ME.

IT WAS MY WAY OF SAYING LOOK NOT ALL MUSLIM WOMEN ARE LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE FORCED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS SUCH A PROBLEM IN THE WEST.

>> HANNA YUSUF LIVES IN LONDON AND SAYS SHE RECEIVES BACKLASH FOR HER CHOICE.

>> WHAT I EXPERIENCE SECOND SOCIAL PRESSURE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AN AMBITIOUS EDUCATED WOMAN WHO WANTS TO GO UP IN THE WORLD AND PRESSURE TO WEAR NOT WEAR THE HIJAB IS AS OPPRESSIVE AS PRESSURE TO WEAR IT.

>> ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER THERE ARE ONE MILLION MUSLIM WOMEN IN AMERICA OF THOSE WOMEN 36% WEAR THE HIJAB ALL THE TIME, 24% SOME OF THE TIME AND 40% CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR IT.

IN CONTRAST MORE THAN 55% OF WOMEN IN MUSLIM NATIONS SUCH AS EGYPT, JORDAN AND TURKEY WEAR A HIJAB ALL OF THE TIME.

THE REASONS DIFFER, SOCIETYIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PRESSURES OFTEN STOP WOMEN FROM UNVEILING.

>> THEY BRAINWASH YOU IN A WAY TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT A GOOD PERSON IF YOU DO NOT WEAR A HIJAB.

I CHOOSE TO TAKE OFF MY SCARF BECAUSE I JUST TOLD MYSELF THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD PERSON, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO WEAR SOMETHING THAT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT.

>> IRANIAN JOURNALIST MASIH ALINEJAD WAS FORCED TO WEAR A HIJAB AT 7.

GIRLS BEGIN WEARING HEAD SCARVES BEFORE THEY REACH PUBERTY.

IRAN WOMEN ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO WEAR A HIJAB IN PUBLIC.

>> HIJAB IS GOING TO BECOME LIKE YOUR IDENTITY.

PART OF YOUR BODY.

IT'S NOT THAT EASY JUST TAKE IT OFF.

IT MEANS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO CUTOFF PART OF YOUR BODY.

I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT MY FAMILY.

EVEN MY NEIGHBORS IN THE VILLAGE.

MY COLLEAGUES IN IRAN.

MY PEOPLE HOW ARE THEY GOING TO JUDGE ME?

SAY THAT MASIH ALINEJAD IS WESTERNIZED?

I REPLACED MY HIJAB WITH A BLACK HAT.

MY SO-CALLED HIJAB.

AND IT TOOK ME LIKE TWO YEARS TO THREW THE BLACK HAT AWAY AND BE MYSELF.

WHY?

WHEN THEY FORCE YOU TO BE SOMEONE ELSE IT'S NOT EASY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN A FREE COUNTRY.

>> IN 2014 MASIH ALINEJAD CREATED THE Facebook PAGE MY STEM CELL THINK FREEDOM TO ENCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN TO REMOVE THEIR SCARVES.

>> IN THIS Facebook PAGE THE WOMEN BECAME THEIR OWN MEDIA AND STORYTELLERS.

AS A WOMAN GROWING UP IN A TRADITIONAL SOCIETY I ALWAYS BEING TOLD THAT KEEP QUIET.

AND NOT BE LOUD.

BUT I WANT WOMEN TO BE LOUD AND SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR BODY ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY.

AND MYSELF FREEDOM PAGE THE WOMEN STARTED TO EXPOSE THEIR OPINION AND THEIR IDEAS BY CREATING MY FREEDOM WE WANT TO SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT OUR FREEDOM JUST HAPPENING IN SECRET.

>> DESPITE OPPOSING VIEWS BOTH BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE REALITY: A WOMAN'S CHOICE.

>> EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR HERSELF WHAT SHE WEARS AND HAVE THAT CHOICE RESPECTED AND NOT UNDERMINED.

>> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, I WAS FORCED TO WEAR HIJAB.

AND WHEN YOU ARE FREE, YOU JUST REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SOMEONE ELSE.

YOU WERE NOT YOURSELF.

>> YOU MENTIONED IN A WEB EPISODE THAT YOU ARE -- MUSLIM WOMAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SHOW HER HAIR BECAUSE SHE MIGHT SEXUALLY AROUSE A MAN.

IS THE HIJAB IN YOUR VIEW ALL PLACING THE BURDEN ON A WOMAN TO SOMEHOW CONTROL MEN'S UNBRIDLED SEXUALITY THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE YOU AND WANT TO RAPE YOU OR HAVE SEX WITH YOU OR SOMETHING AND THAT IS THE WOMAN'S BURDEN TO TRY TO PREVENT?

>> THAT IS THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HEAD SCARF.

THE HIJAB DOES NOT MEAN HEAD SCARF.

IT IS A WORD THAT HAS BEEN USURPED BY THE I HAD LOGS AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE ARE TOO SEXY FOR OUR HAIR.

IF WE REVEAL OUR HAIR WE WILL POSSIBLY SEXUALLY AROUSE A MAN.

THIS IS OUR FORBIDDEN ZONE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT BECOMES IT COVERS A SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE ORDER OF PROBLEMS.

IN IRAN NOW, A WOMAN HAS BEEN NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO GO IN PARLIAMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOW REVEALED PICTURES OF HER WITH HER HAIR SHOWING BECAUSE SHE HAS BECOME ILLEGAL.

>> I DISAGREE.

I DISAGREE.

I THINK THE HEAD SCARF IS NOT NECESSARILY LINKED TO THE POLITICAL WE ARE REQUIRED TO COVER OUR PRAY WHEN WE PRAY.

EVERY MUSLIM YOU COVER YOUR HAIR WHEN WE PRAY.

>> THAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION BUT THAT IS NOT THE LAW.

>> THE MAJORITY.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO A MOSQUE YOU HAVE TO COVER YOUR HAIR.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>> IN ITALY -- >> JEWISH WOMEN -- >> THAT IS THEIR ISSUE.

IT'S LIKE BUT THAT IS A PART OF OUR FAITH ISLAM TELLS US -- >> YOU ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEMINISTS I KNOW.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT WINDSHIELD-WIPER I KNOW AND INTERESTING PANELISTS I KNOW.

BUT WHEN I I HAVE TO ADMIT THIS AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH FEMINIST LEADERS ABOUT THIS, WHEN MUSLIM WOMEN WEAR THE SCARF IN AMERICA AMERICAN WOMEN FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HOLDING AMERICAN WOMEN BACK.

AND AMERICAN WOMEN'S PROGRESS TO BE FREE BACK.

YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT IS NOT JUST AMERICAN WOMEN.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN YEMEN A REMOTE PART, YEMEN WOMEN CAME UP TO ME AND THEY WERE FRUSTRATED.

THEY SAY OUR MEN ARE POINTING AT YOU AND SAY YOU ARE LIVING IN AMERICA AND ARRIVING COVERED AND WE AS WOMEN HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO.

IT'S TRULY DIVIDED WOMEN OUT AND THAT IS PAINFUL.

WE CANNOT BE DIVIDED.

>> BUT YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THE FEMINISTS IN THE UNITED STATES TO WEAR HEAD SCARVES.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> I DO NOT WANT THEM TO.

MY SISTER DOES NOT WEAR A HEAD SCARF.

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO DO IS RESPECT PEOPLE'S CHOICES.

I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING ME YOU DID IT TO BE DIFFERENT AND MEN COMING UP YOU ARE NOT DOING IT GOOD ENOUGH YOU ARE WEARING THE TIGHT PANTS.

LAYOFF THE WAY I DRESS.

I'M SO OVER THIS CONVERSATION.

JUMP ME ON MY ACTIONS.

I AM.

SO WHY ARE YOU DISMISSING ME BASED ON MY CHOICES OF HOW I COVER MY HAIR OR NOT COVER MY HAIR?

I TEND TO WAIVER.

YOU'VE SEEN ME IN DIFFERENT STYLES I LOVE TO PLAY WITH COLOR AND STARVE AND WEARING HATS.

>> OR YOU CAN BE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND COVER YOUR HAIR AND NOT FEMINIST.

THE WOMAN IS FEMINIST.

I MEAN, I GREW UP IN BANGLADESH NOBODY COVERED AND NOW 2016 GLOBALIZATION AND WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF MUSLIM FASHION GOING ON AND IT'S OFFENSIVE TO TELL GROWN WOMEN WHO HAVE DECIDED TO COVER THAT IT'S FETISH OR IT IS OFFENSIVE OR THEY ARE HOLDING THEMSELVES BACK.

>> LAST WORD.

>> WHAT I FIND FIND OFFENSIVE -- >> WAIT.

WAIT.

WAIT.

>> WE HAVE TO COMPETE IN OUR OFFENSES.

>> YOU GOT TO SPEAK MORE THAN I HAVE AND IT'S OFFENSIVE.

>> IT IS NOT ABOUT -- CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU CAN TRY TO OUTSHOUT ME ON THIS POINT BUT THE TRUTH IS WHAT IS MOST OFFENSIVE IS THAT THERE IS AN IDEOLOGY THAT HAS DECIDED THAT WE ARE THE [INAUDIBLE] [ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

AND IT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO HONOR KILLINGS AND THE GIRLS DON'T GET TO GO TO SCHOOL.

>> WE HAVE TO GO ON THAT NOTE.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM MODESTY TO SEX TALK.

>> MUSLIM WOMEN ARE STEPPING OUT OF THE SHADOWS ON AN IMPORTANT BUT TABOO SUBJECT: SEX.

A "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED SEX TALK FOR MUSLIM WOMEN IS IGNITING CONTROVERSY AND PRAISE FOR AWARD-WINNING EGYPTIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST.

IN A FRANK RECOLLECTION, SHE DISCUSSES HER DECISION TO HAVE SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE IN DEFIANCE OF ISLAMIC LAW AND TEACHINGS.

SHE IS HAPPY ABOUT HER CHOICE AND SHE SHE RECEIVES MESSAGES FROM OTHER MUSLIM WOMEN EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES.

SHE IS CALLING FOR GREATER CANDOR AND ACCEPTANCE IN HER COMMUNITY.

THE PIECE FACED CENSORSHIP IN THE MUSLIM WORLD.

PAKISTAN CHOSE NOT TO RUN IT AND REPLACE IT WITH A BLANK SPACE.

A SOURCE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE PAPER QUOTE CANNOT AFFORD TO PUBLISH SUCH CONTROVERSIAL ARTICLES ABOUT ISLAM.

END QUOTE.

SO WHY IS THIS GETTING SUCH A BACKLASH?

>> TALKING ABOUT SEX IN ISLAM THIS HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT BUT I AM HIGH 5 TO THESE WOMEN.

THERE WAS ANOTHER ARTICLE ABOUT HAVING SEX IN PAKISTAN AND THE PIECE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" HIGH 5 TO THE WOMEN.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

I DO NOT THINK WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE SEX AND PLEASURE TWO WORDS THAT GO TOGETHER.

>> AND IT GOES TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

WHAT WE ARE HEARING IN TERMS OF SHAMING AND TRYING TO CONTROL WOMEN'S SEXUAL IT'S NOT LIMITED TO ISLAM.

AND IF ANYTHING ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CREATE SOMETHING A FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN'S SEXUALITY IN ISLAM AND I'M TELLING WOMEN HAVE FAITH IN YOUR FAITH.

ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS.

CROSS THE LINES AND IF YOU DO NOT FIND ANSWERS THEN DEMAND THE RIGHT ANSWER OR LEAVE THE FAITH BUT NOT ASKING IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.

AND WOMEN'S SEXUALITY IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFTS TO BEGIN TO HEAL THE WORLD.

>> WELL, I'VE CROSSED THAT RED LINE IN MY LIFE.

I AM WALKING SCARLETT LETTER IN MY FAITH.

IN PAKISTAN, I BECAME PREGNANT AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS AND I BECAME A CRIMINAL BECAUSE IT IS THE ISLAMIC LAW OF PAKISTAN THAT SAYS THAT A WOMAN WHO HAS A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK IS A CRIMINAL.

AND SO IT IS PARTICIPATE ARKY BUT REGULAR IS BEING USED AS A VEHICLE.

AND I THINK THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT THE HEAD SCARF IS CONNECTED.

BECAUSE IF WE HAVE AN ASSUMPTION OF WOMEN AS VESSELS OF THE HONOR AND CHASTITY OF THE COMMUNITY WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEX.

WOMEN ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO OWN ISSUES OF SEXUAL RIGHTS AND THIS IS WHY THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN FROM THE HEAD COVERING TO OUR INTIMATE SPACES IN OUR BEDROOMS.

>> I THINK ADULLRY FOR WOMEN OF ISLAM, I THINK MORAL AND HIGHER THE CONCEPT OF THAT IS STRONG IN OUR FAITH.

SO FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE I THINK A WOMAN'S SACREDNESS SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[♪♪♪] N ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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