Refuting the Western Objection Regarding Hijab

Question:
We ask you to address the Western objection regarding hijab, which is that if a woman wears hijab, it incites young men to pursue them and increases their desire for them. If there were no hijab, it would become a natural thing, and both young men and young women would strive to please each other, and sexual desire would decrease in both. But the opposite has happened, with a proliferation of crimes. What is your opinion, Your Eminence?

Answer:
This is a refuted objection with no basis. This is a refuted objection. If hijab is obligatory among Muslims, then its obligation among disbelievers is all the more so, because the disbeliever is more wicked, more evil, and uglier in corruption.
So if it is obligatory for her to wear hijab in front of the Muslim, whose religion prevents him from corruption except for one who is weak in that and weak in faith, then her wearing hijab in front of disbelievers is all the more so. And if the disbeliever knows that she is not one in whom he can hope for illicit gain, he will not approach her.
Furthermore, she has no right to go out in the lands of disbelievers except with her mahram (a relative one may not marry) and with someone who protects her from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). She has no right to go out like this alone, even in the lands of Muslims, if she is in a place where there is danger; she does not go out alone. How much more so in the lands of disbelievers! Her awliya (close friends of Allah) should be with her, her mahrams should be with her, and her companions should be with her, so that she is not exposed to fitnah. As for her uncovering herself there, it is forbidden (haram) just as it is forbidden among Muslims, indeed more so, indeed more severe!