Sure, many are in families that push them to do it, but in the end it’s not like they’re not allowed not to by the religion

I never claimed otherwise. It’s the lived experience that matters, not the literal interpretation of the original text.

As I said elsewhere in the thread: The Quran and hadiths, while not always explicit, make multiple references to how women should dress. Different countries and religious sects interpret these rules differently, but it all boils down to the same thing: in these cultures, there are consequences for women who don’t follow the tradition.

My issue isn’t with covering your face or hair — it’s when the person isn’t truly free to choose. And I’d argue that, especially when it comes to the burka or niqab, that’s the case for a genuinely high percentage.