Islamic headscarves and burqas

Muslims (benighted, most of them) say that their women are following their religion when they hide their hair and faces. What I would like to ask is why some 30 or 35 years ago hardly any Muslim female in for example Malaysia or Iran had herself covered? Did Islam suddenly change? Of course not! Which means the change came about because Muslim's beliefs changed, mostly beliefs of Muslim men who somehow felt threatened by female sexuality. It is these uneducated men who have begun to suppress their women-folk and now these poor women think that it is Islam that forbids them from looking attractive. I hope more countries would follow Belgium's example and make it illegal for any woman to wear such outrageous "costumes". aziz anom