THE question of Hijab or the veil is one of the most controversial issues both in the Muslim country and the West, where it causes collective hysterical paroxysm. Hijabophobia is a type of religious and cultural discrimination against Muslim women who wear it. Discriminations had manifested in public, working, and educational places. Hijabophobia is a term referring to hostility against Muslim women who wear veils, including the hijab, chador, niqab, and burqa. It is considered a gender-specific type of Islamophobia, or simply "hostility towards the hijab".
In an Islamophobic view, all Muslims are associated with terrorism. Likewise, for Muslim women, they are equated with terrorism because of their covering (hijab) which is a clear and instant indication of their Muslim identity. The Muslim woman is guilty by association. This led many non-Muslim to fear hijab-wearing females. Every female Muslim around the world who wears her hijab is challenging this stereotype. A practicing Muslim woman might be discriminated especially in the workplace and public areas, where they are judged by their appearance instead of qualities and excellence they have.
Discrimination is more than rude stares or remarks; it includes actions too. Many hijabis were denied in job applications for practicing Islam. Studies have found that Muslim women with a college education are less likely to be chosen for a job against non-Muslim women with a similar level of education. Some assaults can go as far as physical abuse. Women were beaten up inadequately because their preferences in dressing up. On a lesser extent, yet a vital note, women are threatened with verbal abuse. Some women had their hijabs ripped off from their heads just to spite them. There are news reports often showcasing many attacks against these women who are wearing a hijab. A plethora of cases was reported in the UK, Germany, and France. In some countries, there are even laws forbidding the hijab or other modest coverings. In 2016 in France a reporter was disrespected because she wore a hijab and reported about terrorist activity. Different news sources questioned on why she could report because of her hijab. Cases come up all over European countries constantly. TRT World reported six cases in detail and went on to say that most cases leave unreported.
Allah mentioned in the Quran,
“O humanity! Indeed, we created you from a male and a female, and you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Surely Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Al-Hujurat: 13)
In this verse, the whole of mankind has been addressed to reform it of the great evil that has always been causing universal disruption in the world, that is, the prejudices due to race, color, language, country, nationality, and ways of living among the people.
Due to this occurrence, Nazma Khan, a young girl who immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh at age 11, faced years of shaming over wearing a headscarf in New York. Therefore, in 2013, she initiated World Hijab Day – a day for both Muslim and non-Muslim women to experience wearing a headscarf. Celebrated on Feb. 1, the day is an expression of solidarity and support for religious freedom. As a scholar of Muslim immigrants, she has also long argued for women’s right to religious expression in their clothing choices.
In Islam, the Qur'an instructs Muslim women to dress modestly.
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (An-Nur: 31)
Beside to preserving a woman’s beauty, the true purpose of the hijab is to strengthen her connection with God and a form of obedience to Allah, but the world has objectified it to be the opposite because of racism and Islamophobia.
SIGMA would like to invite all Malaysians to challenge these stereotypes. Let us stop the hate and discrimination towards women who choose to wear hijabs; to be treated with respect and dignity. Together we support World Hijab Day. Let us all be united and stay on each other’s back to against any forms of hostility upon hijabis.
“It is not wrong to practice our belief”
" Leading Prosperous Students"
* This statement is issued by Sinergi Gerakan Mahasiswa (SIGMA)
Media Statement
Mon Feb 01 2021
In 2013, Nazma Khan initiated the World Hijab Day to be celebrated on Feb 1, a day for both Muslim and non-Muslim women to experience wearing a headscarf.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Laporan Al Jazeera menyebut, jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
AWANI Pagi: Pendayaupayaan Pembangunan Sosio Ekonomi Bagi Memacu Wilayah Persekutuan
Ikuti temu bual bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa di #AWANIPagi jam 7.30 pagi di saluran 501 Astro AWANI.
Pentagon, Jabatan Negara AS beri amaran jenayah perang Israel
Pegawai-pegawai tersebut telah memberi amaran peningkatan jumlah kematian di Gaza mungkin melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa.
200,000 pelarian tiba di Syria selepas serangan Israel ke atas Lubnan - UNHCR
Lebih 200,000 warga Syria dan Lubnan telah tiba di Syria dari Lubnan sejak serangan Israel bermula pada 23 Sept.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Kementerian Komunikasi akan memberikan keutamaan dengan meneruskan usaha untuk meningkatkan dan memantapkan lagi prasarana kesalinghubungan melibatkan isu Internet, dalam Belanjawan 2025 yang akan dibentangkan pada 18 Okt ini.
Setahun solidariti, sokongan global untuk Palestin di tengah-tengah genosid berterusan Israel
Ribuan manusia di seluruh dunia turun ke jalanan untuk menyuarakan sokongan kepada Palestin dan menuntut keadilan.
Indonesia kecewakan China, raih kejuaraan badminton berpasukan campuran remaja dunia
Indonesia menewaskan China untuk muncul Juara Badminton Berpasukan Campuran Remaja Dunia dengan kemenangan 110-103 (mata terkumpul).
Bomba selamatkan tiga subkontrakor terkandas di kren pengangkat
Ketiga-tiga mangsa lelaki itu masing-masing berusia 24, 26 dan 32 tahun terkandas dengan anggaran ketinggian dua tingkat.
Hulu Perak daerah terbaharu dilanda banjir kilat
Banjir kilat berlaku disebabkan hujan lebat berterusan selama dua jam di sekitar Gerik.
GAMIS Nasional kemuka memorandum, kenal pasti 3 masalah utama
Ia selepas GAMIS Nasional mengadakan pertemuan dengan wakil-wakil Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar (MPP) IPTA dan IPTS daripada Kedah dan Perlis.
Bencana banjir perlu ditangani dengan efisien. Di mana silapnya?
Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia meramalkan musim tengkujuh serta fenomena hujan lebat akan berlarutan sehingga Mac ini. Ekoran itu juga kita menyaksikan beberapa negeri di Pantai Timur serta Johor dan
GAMIS desak Dong Zong diharamkan
Desakan itu disuarakan dalam Himpunan Bangkit Pertahan Jawi, Haramkan Dong Zong yang berlangsung di ibu negara, pada Rabu.
Demonstrasi bukan simbol gerakan persatuan mahasiswa - Saifuddin
Masyarakat perlu melihat idealisme pelajar dan gerakan pelajar yang ditubuhkan di Malaysia ini bukan bertujuan untuk demonstrasi.