The Islamic headscarf has become the subject of heated legal andpolitical debate. France and Germany have legislated against it,and even the UK, long a champion of multiculturalism, has recentlyrestricted the veil proper. Ever since home-grown Islamic terrorismstruck Europe, these debates have become even more prominent,impassioned and wide-ranging, with vital global importance.In this concise and beautifully written introduction to thepolitics of the veil in modern societies, Christian Joppke examineswhy a piece of clothing could have led to such controversy. Hedissects the multiple meanings of the Islamic headscarf, andexplores its links with the global rise of Islam, Muslimintegration, and the retreat from multiculturalism. He argues thatthe headscarf functions as a mirror of identity, but one in whichnational and liberal identities overlap, exposing the paradox thatwhile it may be an affront to liberal values, its suppression isequally illiberal.Veil: Mirror of Identity will illuminate, challenge andprovoke readers, and will make compelling reading for scholars,students and general readers alike.

Preface viii1 The Islamic Headscarf in Western Europe 12 The Pupil's Headscarf in Republican France 273 The Teacher's Headscarf in Christian-OccidentalGermany 534 The Extreme Headscarf in Multicultural Britain 815 Liberalism and Muslim Integration 107Notes 127Bibliography 141Index 151