Saudi women step on face veils in social media protest

Aren’t Western feminists lately championing Islamic women’s garb like the hijab?

"In Saudi Arabia, however, it's not a matter of choice..."

There are a lot of countries that while not the law, you face threats of harm of you don't wear one such as Afghanistan or Pakistan..many countries in Africa too...

"a genuine choice made of a woman's own free will and religious conviction"

When you are indoctrinated at birth, there really is no free will.

Funny old world, banned in Europe, forced in Saudi etc.

Aren’t Western feminists lately championing Islamic women’s garb like the hijab?

Listen buddy, i don't know what feminists you've been seeing but as a egalitarian myself i can safely tell you that most feminists do not praise the hijab or niqab as empowering to women

Aren’t Western feminists lately championing Islamic women’s garb like the hijab?

No. Some of them may defend women's right to choose since certain countries have chosen to ban these clothes outright.

for many women both in Islamic countries and outside them, wearing these coverings is a genuine choice made of a woman's own free will and religious conviction.

In the same way that these young ladies do not believe in evolution from their own "free will and conviction":

https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DWnsI2CxqDV8&ved=0ahUKEwib_uab18TfAhUvyoUKHaKNAm8Qo7QBCCYwAA&usg=AOvVaw0NP5K-ScO9pQAXtvzylkXn

Clip is of Richard Dawkins visiting an Islamic high school in Britain.

wrt the Richard Dawkins post... who cares whether they believe what their religion says wrt evolution - the same could be said of the Catholic Church too.

However, what does need to be weeded out, are the rotten eggs, who teach aggression towards others simply over their differences in beliefs, Color of skin, or Political views, etc. (Especially within the UK).

"Brainwashing" occurs everywhere... at all levels of Society, even ... in the UK. If an individual chooses to at some stage in life take a different route, then they should not be forced/coerced to do otherwise.

How many men would feel fine wearing a miniskirt to work? Very few because it was never considered an option in their culture. But if they did, the disapproval would come from all sides. Imagine if many men in Russia were wearing miniskirts daily - it was fashionable. Then more would see that and might enjoy it.

It is the same for Saudi women, but they do see how the rest of the world dresses and some women there want to dress in that way.

Of course, I'll continue to wear trousers to work, but I'd like the choice to wear a miniskit from time to time even if that choice isn't something I'd exercise.