hujum (headscarfing)

directamente da wikipédia, 'hujum' reflecte perfeitamente o conflito este-oeste ou oeste-islão substituindo o comunismo (não por literatura mas) por capitalismo, se é que o termo continua a fazer sentido depois de desaparecida a primeira parte da equação:

Hujum (in Turkic languages, storming or assault, from Arabic: هجوم) was a series of policies and actions taken by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, initiated by Joseph Stalin, to try to have women in the Muslim majority areas of the Soviet Union remove their veils. The hujum was literally an "attack" on all manifestations of perceived gender inequality, especially on the archaic systems of female veiling and seclusion, practiced in Central Asia. Thus the party recast their message of class revolution into the novel lexicon of women's liberation. By abolishing the means of oppression apparent in Uzbekistan, and heralding in women's liberation, the Soviets believed they could clear the way for the construction of socialism. The hujum campaign's purpose was to rapidly change the lives of Uzbek women so that they may participate in public life, paid work, education, and ultimately membership in the Communist Party. It was originally conceived to enforce laws that gave women in patriarchal societies equality by creating literacy programs and bringing women into the labor force.
The program initiated around 1927, and was a change of the previous Bolshevik policy of religious freedom for the Muslims in Central Asia. However, quite in contrary to its aim, Hujum was seen by many Muslims as an outside foreign force, namely Russians, attempting to force their culture upon the indigenous population, namely Tajiks, Tatars, and Uzbeks, and so the veil became a cultural identity marker. Wearing it became an act of religious and political defiance, and a sign of support for the respective ethnic nationalism. Prior to Hujum many women were in positions of power in the soviets of Muslim areas, however, despite Hujums aim of "emancipating" the "oppressed" Muslim women, after its instigation the number of women in power decreased remarkably.

o início do véu, diz-se, esteve em Samarkanda, é a história de Bibi Khanoum, a mesquita e a mulher, esposa de Timur e filha do imperador da China.

Legend of a Kiss  (daqui)
 The story goes that the mosque’s Persian architect, as his price for finishing before Timur‘s return, insisted on a kiss from Bibi Khanum herself. She, of course, refused. But when word reached her that Timur was in Merv, a week’s march away, and the mosque was still unfinished, she decided to allow the architect to kiss her cheek. His lips left a mark that Timur noticed upon his return. Arab architect was being pursued to the summit of the minaret in which he had taken refuge, wings appeared upon his shoulders, and he took flight towards Meshed in northwest Iran, the next site, appropriately, of Timurid architecture. He ordered all women to wear veils so than only their husbands could enjoy what was beneath. Modern Uzbek women, however, usually do not take veil. Women mainly wear scarves to block out the sun.

o mais fantástico, obviamente, é a última frase da 'lenda'.

outra versão aqui.

Timurid architecture - Ulugh Beg Madrasa, The Bibi Khanum Mosque, Aq Saray Palace, Amir Burunduq a mausoleum, from Eraz

aqui, o túmulo de Temur.