I am ignorant about the Koran. However I am reading a book right now called Princess Sultana's Daughters, about the Saudi royal family; and Princess Sultana, who is all for women's rights, makes it very plain that while the Koran doesn't call for women to be veiled, ancient tradition does.

It's not unlike some of the conundrums in Christianity today. People will believe what the leaders tell them, rather than checking out the source for themselves.