The news about the positive step taken by the Scotland Police to introduce Hijab as part of the police uniform for Muslim women is an important development in terms of inclusion, diversity and equality for women. Just like the way Sikh men won the right to wear the turban as part of their police uniform all those years ago, an important part of clothing from religious and cultural perspective. ‘Hijab’ that has often caused a stir, headlines and discussions in the West, will now give Muslim women the choice to maintain their cultural identity while working for the force.
But then ‘Burkini’ hit the news when a woman was forced to remove it on a French beach. Just across the waters, more than 20 towns have now banned this piece of clothing. A garment that allowed women to maintain their cultural norm while enjoy being part of the wider society is now a symbol of fear. The image of a woman being forced to remove her top is disturbing and provoking and takes the discussion into the realms of women’s equality and their rights.
Amidst these two developments and their impact on Muslim women, Nadiya Hussain brings a breath of fresh air. Her Chronicles on BBC 1 on Wednesday provided a personal yet candid perspective on why she choses to wear the hijab. Whist it is difficult to understand why a woman should be soley held responsible to protect herself from the prying eyes, hence the need to cover herself fully, Nadiya made it look easy to understand why covering her hair was important for her. It’s not about religion. It’s cultural, it’s personal. And when one understands one’s culture, choices become easy.
Sangini 