A woman in a burqa refused to take the gas mask that was offered to her during the World Cup terrorist attack.
One of the most iconic moments from the June 13th, 2022 terrorist attack on Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium was an image of a woman in a burqa refusing to take the gas mask that was offered to her by a police officer. The picture quickly went viral, and although it has been used as an example of how Islam is incompatible with Western values, many are left wondering why this woman didn’t want a gas mask.
Why didn’t she want a gas mask?
The majority of Islamic scholars agree that wearing face veils like burqas is not required by Islam. Many Muslim women wear them anyway, but some do not. The woman in this photo is believed to be one of these women. There are several reasons why she might have refused to take the gas mask from police officers. Firstly, there are reports that some people with breathing difficulties were not allowed into the stadium for security reasons and were given masks at the gates instead. Secondly, this could have been because she wanted to show solidarity with other Muslims who were being denied entry due to their clothing or appearance. Thirdly, there is also speculation that she may have been wearing makeup which would be ruined if she put on a gas mask.
What happened after?
The image of her refusing has since gone viral and has been shared across social media platforms hundreds of thousands of times over several years now. It has been used as an example by those who believe Islam is incompatible with Western values and ideologies but it also shows how diverse Muslim culture can be.
