To mark International Hijab Solidarity Day 2005, Protect-Hijab hosted a conference on ‘Hijab Unveiled: A Day of Reflection’ at the Kensington Town Hall, London, on September 9. “Despite a huge growth in the number of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab in Britain today, there are still many stereotypes and misconceptions that surround this piece of clothing. One of the aims of Protect-Hijab is to educate and raise awareness and the Conference did both of these”, said Chair of Protect Hijab, Rajnaara Akhtar.

Sheikh Haitham al-Huddad, a member of the Islamic Shari’ah Council, argued that the hijab was wajib (obligatory) using various verses from the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Al-Huddad said, “It is clear that it is a matter of obligation according to Qur’an and according to the Prophetic traditions and the practice of the Companions. That’s why all Muslims with their various affiliations and inclinations agree upon the obligation of the hijab. I can challenge anyone to bring me a single scholar, Sunni, Shia, Mu’tazila, Khwarij, whatever - all of them have agreed on the principles of the hijab and the principles of jilbab.” Sheikh al-Huddad said that, “We Muslims are part of the society and according to the obligation imposed on us by Allah the Almighty; we have to work for the betterment of this society. How can we do that? By being good Muslims and by passing the message of Islam. Part of passing the message of Islam is passing the Principles of Hijab. We as Muslims promote Hijab.”

Former the President of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Dr Anas Al-Tikriti, said that he supported the campaign of Protect-hijab. “People are quite familiar with and recognize it. Wherever I go, whether in Malaysia, Australia or South Africa, people recognize and admire the hijab campaign and try to emulate it. This campaign, which is driven 100% by women, is a testimony to the fact that gives them far more credibility than we do some time.”

“Inequality is not just a Muslim thing; inequality is a universal global problem. But our enemies in Islam will seize upon the inequalities within the Muslim world and uses to demonise us,” said Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and Editor of the Islam Channel. “These very same enemies attack the hijab and say this is a sign of oppression and subjugation. The presence of so many sisters with the hijab here today simply proves that is not true,” she said.

Ridley argued that the hijab was not the mark of oppression, rather it is “part of the Muslim woman’s business suit. It says that I am a Muslim, therefore you will treat me with respect. This business suit tells you that I am in business and you have to take it seriously. And so the hijab tells the non-Muslims I am a Muslim woman.” Ridley agreed with Sheikh al-Huddad that the hijab is an obligation. “It does not matter how you interpret the Qur’an, the hijab is an obligation. If it is the symbol of oppression as Cherie Booth and Laura Bush said this, then shouldn’t they say to the Vatican to liberate all of those Roman Catholic nuns?”

Ridley was alluding to the international press conferences in November 2001 following the invasion and bombing of Afghanistan where Laura Bush and Cherie Booth “tried to justify their husbands’ actions by talking about this veiled oppression on Afghan women” and added that Laura and Cherie were “horribly exploited by their powerful husbands to go in front of the camera and try and justify the obscenity of the bombing in Afghanistan.”

MAB member, Raghad Osama, spoke about the rights accorded to women by Islam. She said that women had a right of inheritance, the right to choose their spouse and their equality with men. Osama said the reason behind the hijab was to “protect the basic unit of society in Islam, and that’s to protect family not individual. The whole society works to protect that unit, wife and children. In Islam sexual relationship before marriage is forbidden. So Allah asks us not to indulge in adultery and not to have illegal relationships. He has given us a tool to survive. To show a sign of modesty.”

Respect Party member, Salma Yaqoob, said that every religion, whether it is Judaism, Buddhism or Christianity, stands for modesty. She quoted both from Old and New Testament about covering of the head. “There is also a verse in the Qur’an (Chapter 24, verse 30) which says to the believing men to lower their gaze and maintain their modesty. It also says to the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.”

“Hijab is protection, it is a part of our social structure. Islam is moderation with limits, freedom with limits. I am not suppressed. For me that is liberation,” said Salma Yaqoob. She added that Islam has given a social system about protecting the family unit. “This is how the concept of the hijab works. Protection is better than cure. Wedding band or wedding ring is a signal to the people that I am attached. As the western society does it by wearing wedding ring, for us it is our hijab, by wearing the hijab means we are not available.”