Hijab: A woman's right to choose
European Social Forum
16th October 2004

Arlene Rodrigues (Assembly for the Protection of Hijab)
 

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem, In the name of Allah the most Merciful the most Gracious.
 

The French Government argued that in seeking to maintain the republican principles of a Secular state it was necessary to ban the Hijab, which, it argued, an obvious religious symbol.

The Hijab is NOT a religious symbol it is a religious obligation and it is very important that we do not confuse the two.

A ban on the Headscarf –what does it mean? To me it means that at certain times in certain places particular Governments are dictating to me when and where I can wear my headscarf. So why would any progressive state do this? To protect Secular values?; to supposedly liberate me? Do YOU think I need liberating?
The ban is NOT about the protection of the secular state, and it is certainly Not about the so called liberation of Muslim women. It is about state dictatorship and the erosion of basic civil liberties.

For those of you in any doubt, the headscarf is a piece of cloth; any kind will do, so long as it covers the hair. And why do I wear this? Does it provide a greater level of modesty? Yes, does it free me from the constraints of vanity of course but ultimately the reason I wear the Hijab is to fulfil a particular aspect of my religious worship. Wearing the Hijab is a requirement of my faith and denying me the right to wear it means to deny me the right to practice an aspect of my religion.

And what is the effect of denying me this right, I mean I am a Muslim at all times. I am a Muslim when I wake, when I sleep, when I eat, when I shop, when I study. Am I really expected to switch off my Islamic faith at the whim of another person?

And why is it that in suddenly we being considered less British or less French, or whatever the nationality maybe if we are seen to practice our religion? I am a Muslim and I am British, they are Muslims and they are French. Continually calling into question the loyalty and citizenship of Muslim only serves to alienate them further from the society, and it is THEIR society, OUR society.

Of course the ban is in direct breech of both the European and United Nations Conventions on Human Rights, the right of Freedom of Religious practice.

Of course it will further stigmatise Muslims and leave them feeling further victimized and marginalized. What will be the result of this? Is it going to counter the so-called threat from Islamic fundamentalism? No, it will do the exact opposite.

This is an unjust and unworkable law. It is completely unwarranted and completely discriminative.

The definition of Secularism in the French state indicates the neutrality of the state towards religion, but by forcing Muslim women to abandon part of their religious practice they are being far from neutral. In doing this they are directly breeching the freedom to religious practice, a right they and other countries who are banning the Hijab signed to protect under the European convection on Human Rights

And let us not forget that this ban isn’t just about forcing Muslim students to take off their Hijab, but also women in public service and in an alarming development we are receiving reports of women wearing the Hijab being denied medical treatment if they refuse to remove it, medical treatment one of the most basic of human right. Does it make sense that in supposed liberation you behave inhumanely?
And we also have reports of Muslims girls not only being told to remove their Hijabs but that they should shorten their skirts, not wear traditional dress etc. emphasizing the infectious racist nature of this ban

It is very interesting to note that it is in the very institutions that are supposed to support and aid women to progress further, educational institutions, that are being denied to Muslim women if they choose to practice this aspect of their faith, to wear the Hijab.

Women are an integral part of every society, and we have fought hard to achieve our rights and status within it. Muslim women are no different, we are doctors, lawyer, housewives and students, we partake in all spheres of society and the wearing of a piece of cloth on our heads in no way inhibits us from doing this. It is ridiculous laws like this one that does.

And while we are greatly encouraged by the British government’s support for the Assembly for the Protection of the Hijab, we also request that the British Government take a lead role in Europe with regards to integration and multi-culturalism.

Islam teaches us that If you say something sincerely from your heart, it will touch the hearts of others. So I ask you all sincerely, from my heart, to join with us in defending the basic principles of freedom and to oppose the Ban on the Hijab wherever it occurs.

Thank you.