Algiers, Aug. 25 (TNS): Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan, stole the spotlight duringthe swearing-in-ceremony last week with her white niqab, known as “al-Hayek” in North African countries and it is the traditional dress for women in Algeria.
Niqab is normally worn in black color, but when white, it becomes similar to Algerian women’s first traditional dress since the fall of al-Andalus.
Al-Hayek started disappearing from the Algerian society by the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s, until it was completely replaced by the regular scarf, or head covering known as Hijab, for political, religious, and societal reasons.
