Nasser Rejects Muslim Brotherhood Call to Mandate Hijab on Women

Video Clips

Gamal Abdel Nasser dismissed the Muslim Brotherhood's demand for mandatory headscarves, arguing a leader who cannot convince his own daughter to veil has no standing to force 10 million women to cover up.

AI-assisted summary of Gamal Abdel Nasser laughing at Muslim Brotherhood hijab requirement in 1958 (subtitled) — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2015-12-14

Key ideas

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser recalled a 1953 negotiation where the Muslim Brotherhood's primary demand was nationwide mandatory hijab for all women in public. (0:02)
Nasser rejected the proposal, comparing state-enforced religious dress mandates to the oppressive decrees of Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. (0:58)
To highlight the hypocrisy of the mandate, Nasser revealed that the Brotherhood's General Guide had a daughter studying medicine who did not wear a head covering. (0:58)
Nasser dismissed the demand with a pointed rhetorical contrast, questioning how he could compel 10 million Egyptian women to wear a headscarf when the leader could not persuade his own daughter. (0:58)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by the channel Video Clips on December 14, 2015, this archival footage highlights Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser addressing a crowd in 1958. According to the description, the video showcases Nasser laughing at the Muslim Brotherhood for their demand that women across Egypt be legally required to wear a head covering.

## TL;DR Addressing a public gathering, Gamal Abdel Nasser recounts a 1953 negotiation where the General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood demanded state enforcement of the mandatory hijab for all Egyptian women. Nasser rebuffed the ultimatum, warning that such overreach echoed the erratic decrees of Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah and insisting dress should remain a private family choice. When the Brotherhood leader maintained that the head of state must enforce public morality, Nasser pointed out that the leader's own daughter was enrolled in medical school without wearing a headscarf. Nasser concluded his anecdote by ridiculing the hypocrisy of asking him to impose head coverings on ten million women when the leader could not convince his own daughter to wear one.

## Atmosphere & style The address is lively, charismatic, and sharply satirical, elevated by Nasser's effortless comic timing and conversational storytelling. The interaction between the speaker and the crowd feels electric, with audience members interjecting witty remarks and the entire hall erupting into laughter and applause. Rather than a dry political speech, the delivery plays out like a triumphant public takedown, blending biting ridicule of religious authoritarianism with engaging populist rhetoric.

## Bulletin - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser recalled a 1953 negotiation where the Muslim Brotherhood's primary demand was nationwide mandatory hijab for all women in public. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser rejected the proposal, comparing state-enforced religious dress mandates to the oppressive decrees of Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) To highlight the hypocrisy of the mandate, Nasser revealed that the Brotherhood's General Guide had a daughter studying medicine who did not wear a head covering. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser dismissed the demand with a pointed rhetorical contrast, questioning how he could compel 10 million Egyptian women to wear a headscarf when the leader could not persuade his own daughter.

## Key takeaways - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) Following the 1952 revolution, Egyptian leadership initially sought a political middle ground with the Muslim Brotherhood. - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) The General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood presented Nasser with a formal list of state demands during their 1953 meeting. - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) The Brotherhood's foremost demand was for the government to mandate that every woman walking in public wear a headscarf (tarha). - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) The sweeping nature of the headscarf decree drew immediate ridicule from the audience, with an attendee shouting 'Let him wear it!' - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser argued that personal attire and conduct are private matters for individual households rather than state mandates. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser warned that state-enforced dress codes would echo the authoritarian decrees of Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who banned day walking. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) The Brotherhood's leader dismissed personal discretion, insisting that enforcing moral codes is the direct responsibility of the head of state. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser challenged the General Guide directly over the fact that his own daughter attended medical school without wearing a tarha. - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Nasser framed the demand as an absurd double standard, contrasting one father's lack of domestic authority with expecting the state to veil 10 million women.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) The Muslim Brotherhood's Demand for Mandatory Hijab

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser recounts an encounter from 1953, reflecting on the government's early efforts to reach an understanding with the Muslim Brotherhood. Addressing a large, attentive gathering, Nasser explains that the leadership genuinely sought a political middle ground, noting, “We really wanted to compromise with the Muslim Brotherhood if they were willing to be reasonable.” To explore this possibility, Nasser held a direct meeting with the General Guide (head) of the Muslim Brotherhood, who arrived with a formal list of demands for the state.

The very first item presented by the Brotherhood's leader was an edict concerning Egyptian women: he demanded that the government enforce mandatory hijab across the entire country, requiring every woman walking in public to wear a *tarha* (headscarf). Nasser emphasizes the sheer scope of the demand, repeating to the audience that the order was intended to cover “every woman walking” on the street. The absurdity of the decree immediately strikes the crowd, prompting an audience member to shout out a derisive joke: “Let him wear it!”—triggering widespread laughter across the hall as Nasser smiles and pauses before delivering his counterarguments.

[00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah and the Leader's Daughter

Nasser details how he pushed back against the General Guide's ultimatum during their private conversation, warning him of the historical regression such authoritarian religious mandates would represent. He cautioned the leader: “If I make that a law they will say that we have returned to the days of Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah who forbade people from walking at day and only allowed walking at night.” Nasser argued for personal freedom within families, maintaining that matters of dress and conduct belong to individual households rather than state mandates. However, the Brotherhood leader dismissed this principle of household discretion, telling Nasser directly: “No. As the leader, you are responsible.”

Seizing on the leader’s insistence on state enforcement over personal freedom, Nasser turned the argument back onto the General Guide's own household. Nasser challenged him by pointing out, “Sir, you have a daughter in the School of Medicine and she's not wearing a tarha,” and asked why he had failed to make his own child wear the head covering. Amid growing amusement and applause from the audience, Nasser drove home the hypocrisy of the request, concluding with the biting rhetorical question: “If you are unable to make one girl--who is your daughter--wear the tarha you want me to put a tarha on 10 million women myself?”

- **Historical context**: The meeting described took place in 1953, shortly after the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. - **Historical reference**: Nasser compared mandatory public veil laws to the erratic decrees of Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. - **Counterpart's family**: The Muslim Brotherhood leader's daughter was enrolled in the School of Medicine and did not wear a *tarha*. - **Scale of the demand**: Nasser contrasted the Brotherhood leader's inability to convince a single daughter with expecting the head of state to enforce head coverings on 10 million Egyptian women.

## Mentioned Gamal Abdel Nasser, Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

## Video description Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser laughing at the Muslim Brotherhood in 1958 for suggesting that women should be required to wear a head covering

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk)

中文简报

纳赛尔拒绝穆斯林兄弟会强制女性戴头巾的要求贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔驳回了穆斯林兄弟会强制戴头巾的要求，认为一个连自己女儿都无法说服戴头巾的领袖，没有立场强迫一千万女性蒙面。贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔在一次公开集会上发表讲话，回忆了1953年的一次谈判，当时穆斯林兄弟会总导师要求国家强制所有埃及女性佩戴希贾布（头巾）。纳赛尔拒绝了这一最后通牒，警告称这种过度干预犹如法蒂玛王朝哈里发哈基姆·比-阿姆尔·安拉的反复无常法令，并坚持着装应属于个人家庭选择。当该兄弟会领袖坚称国家元首必须强制推行公共道德时，纳赛尔指出该领袖自己的女儿在医学院就读且并未佩戴头巾。纳赛尔在讲述这一轶事时嘲弄了这种虚伪，称该领袖连自己的女儿都说服不了，却要求他强迫一千万女性佩戴头巾。埃及总统贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔回忆了1953年的一次谈判，穆斯林兄弟会当时的主要要求是全国范围内强制所有女性在公共场合佩戴头巾。 (0:02) 纳赛尔拒绝了该提议，将国家强制宗教着装要求比作法蒂玛王朝哈里发哈基姆·比-阿姆尔·安拉的压迫性法令。 (0:58) 为揭露该要求的虚伪，纳赛尔透露穆兄会总导师有一位正在学医的女儿，但她并没有佩戴头巾。 (0:58) 纳赛尔用犀利的反问驳回了这一要求，质问该领袖连自己的女儿都说服不了，他又怎么能强迫一千万埃及女性戴头巾。 (0:58)

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 该视频由 YouTube 频道“Video Clips”于 2015 年 12 月 14 日发布。视频简介指出，内容记录了埃及领导人贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔（Gamal Abdel Nasser）在 1958 年的一场演讲中，嘲笑穆斯林兄弟会提出强制女性佩戴头巾的要求。 ## TL;DR 纳赛尔在演讲中回忆了 1953 年与穆斯林兄弟会领导人接触的往事，透露对方提出的首要条件竟然是立法强制全埃及女性在公共场合佩戴头巾。纳赛尔认为这种要求将让社会倒退回极端严苛的黑暗历史，并坚称家庭生活规范应由民众自主决定而非国家强加。面对对方“领导人负有强制推行责任”的逼迫，纳赛尔当场指出该领袖自己在医学院读书的亲生女儿平时都不戴头巾。他幽默质问对方连自己的一个女儿都管不了，却指望国家元首亲自给全埃及一千万妇女戴上头巾，有力瓦解了对方的说辞并赢得全场喝彩。 ## Atmosphere & style 整个演讲现场充满轻松幽默与辛辣讽刺的氛围，台下不时爆发出哄堂大笑甚至起哄声，互动感极强。纳赛尔以举重若轻、娓娓道来的叙事风格化解沉重的意识形态诉求，极具个人魅力。观感上既展现了政治领袖的机智口才，也生动传递出当时大众对极端保守教条的嘲弄与抗拒。 ## Bulletin - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) 1953年埃及革命后，总统纳赛尔曾尝试与穆斯林兄弟会妥协，但对方提出的首要条件竟是立法强制全国街头女性佩戴头巾（hijab/tarha）。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔拒绝了穆斯林兄弟会的宗教强加要求，认为这等同于倒退回法蒂玛王朝哈里发哈基姆严禁百姓白天外出的荒谬黑暗统治时代。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔当面指出该领袖在医学院就读的亲生女儿日常就不戴头巾，并讽刺对方连一人都无法管束，却妄图要求国家元首强迫全埃及1000万名女性戴头巾。 ## Key takeaways - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) 纳赛尔在演讲中回忆1953年埃及革命后的政局，表明政府当年只要对方讲道理，原本非常希望与穆斯林兄弟会达成妥协与和解。 - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) 穆斯林兄弟会领导人在会谈中开出的首要诉求，是要求埃及政府立法强制所有在街上行走的女性必须佩戴头巾。 - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) 强制头巾的要求在当时被视为脱离现实且极其荒谬，纳赛尔转述时引发公众哄堂大笑，更有听众当场起哄反唇相讥。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔援引法蒂玛王朝哈里发哈基姆颁布怪异禁令的历史典故，严厉批驳强加生活禁令是社会倒退。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔坚持公私界限与治理原则，主张家庭内部的生活规范应当由民众自主决定，国家法律不应横加干涉。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 穆斯林兄弟会领导人以国家领导人负有宗教推行责任为由，试图对纳赛尔进行道德绑架并逼迫其签署法令。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔用事实精准反击，披露该宗教领袖在医学院就读的亲生女儿在日常生活中也根本不佩戴头巾。 - [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔通过“管不好自己1个女儿，却妄图强迫全埃及1000万女性”的悬殊对比，机智且彻底瓦解了穆斯林兄弟会强推宗教法条的虚伪主张。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=2s) 与穆斯林兄弟会的会面与头巾强制要求埃及总统贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔（Gamal Abdel Nasser）在演讲中回忆了1953年埃及革命后与穆斯林兄弟会（Muslim Brotherhood）交往的一段往事。纳赛尔表示，当年如果对方愿意讲道理，政府其实非常希望与穆斯林兄弟会达成妥协与和解。纳赛尔回忆道：“In the year 1953, we really wanted to compromise with the Muslim Brotherhood if they were willing to be reasonable.”随后，他与穆斯林兄弟会的领导人举行了面对面的会谈，听取对方提出的各项诉求。令纳赛尔以及现场听众忍俊不禁的是穆斯林兄弟会提出的第一条要求。纳赛尔指出，这位领导人坐下来后开出的首要条件，竟然是要求在埃及推行强制佩戴头巾（hijab）的法令，硬性规定每一位走在大街上的女性都必须佩戴头巾（tarha）。当纳赛尔复述这一严苛且匪夷所思的要求时，台下听众哄堂大笑，人群中甚至有一名男子高声起哄嘲讽道：“Let him wear it.”（“让他自己戴去吧！”），引得全场爆发出更加热烈的笑声。 - **历史背景年份**：1953年。 - **穆斯林兄弟会的首要诉求**：要求政府立法，强制埃及所有在街上行走的女性必须佩戴头巾（tarha / hijab）。 --- ### [00:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk&t=58s) 纳赛尔的反驳与对个人民主权利的坚持纳赛尔接着向公众讲述了自己当时如何回绝穆斯林兄弟会领袖的说辞。他当面警告对方，如果自己真签署了这样的强制性法律，埃及民众必将痛斥社会倒退回了法蒂玛王朝哈里发哈基姆（Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah）的黑暗荒谬时代——那位统治者曾颁布奇葩法令，严禁百姓在白天出门走动，只准在夜间外出。纳赛尔强调了自己的治理原则，即家庭内部的生活规范应当由民众在自己的家中自行决定，而不是由国家强加干涉。然而，对方立刻反驳，坚称作为国家领导人，纳赛尔负有不可推卸的推行责任：“No. As the leader, you are responsible.”面对对方的逼迫，纳赛尔用事实给予了极具讽刺意味的精准反击。他指出这位领袖自己的女儿就在医学院读书，而且她在日常生活中就根本不戴头巾。纳赛尔当场质问对方：“If you are unable to make one girl--who is your daughter--wear the tarha, you want me to put a tarha on 10 million women myself?”（“如果你连自己的亲生女儿——区区一个女孩——都无法让她戴上头巾，你竟然指望我亲自动手给全埃及一千万名妇女戴上头巾？”）。这段充满机智、幽默且切中要害的回应，彻底瓦解了对方道德绑架的说辞，也博得了台下民众雷鸣般的掌声与欢笑。 - **历史典故引用**：法蒂玛王朝第六任哈里发哈基姆·比-阿穆尔·阿拉（Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah），以颁布极端严苛怪异的法令闻名，如禁止民众白天外出、只准夜间活动。 - **事实对比**：该领导人自己的女儿就读于医学院（School of Medicine），平时并未佩戴头巾。 - **数据规模对比**：1名家庭内部的亲生女儿 vs 埃及全境的1000万（10 million）名女性。 ## Mentioned 贾迈勒·阿卜杜勒·纳赛尔（Gamal Abdel Nasser）, 穆斯林兄弟会（Muslim Brotherhood）, 哈基姆·比-阿穆尔·阿拉（Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah）, 法蒂玛王朝, 埃及 ## Video description Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser laughing at the Muslim Brotherhood in 1958 for suggesting that women should be required to wear a head covering [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIqdrFeFBk)

Original transcript

[0:02] In the year 1953 [0:05] We really wanted to compromise [0:10] with the Muslim Brotherhood [0:12] if they were willing to be reasonable [0:19] And I met the head of the Muslim Brotherhood [0:23] and he sat with me and made his requests [0:27] The first thing he asked for [0:29] was to make wearing a hijab mandatory in Egypt. [0:32] and demand that every woman [0:35] walking in the street wear a tarha (scarf) [0:43] Every woman walking [0:48] Man from the crowd: Let him wear it [0:58] And I told him [1:00] If I make that a law [1:03] they will say that we have returned to the days of Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah [1:08] who forbade people from walking at day and only allowed walking at night. [1:14] And my opinion is that every person in his own house [1:19] decides for himself the rules [1:22] and he replied, "No. As the leader, you are responsible." [1:26] I told him [1:28] "Sir, you have a daughter in the School of Medicine" [1:31] and she's not wearing a tarha" [1:36] Why didn't you make her wear a tarha? [1:40] If you- [1:53] If you are unable to make one wear- [1:56] If you are unable to make one girl--who is your daughter--wear the tarha [2:01] you want me to put a tarha on 10 million women myself?