The Hijab

Hijab is a right, as is the choice not to wear it, and the choice to wear bikini to the beach if you wish to do so. And as long as you have the desired qualifications, it should be your right to enter into whatever career you want, regardless of your religion. That is simply a basic principle of justice. Now if anybody believes that hijab (or any other religious head cover) is a requirement of the religion (regardless of how other people may think of that), and it doesn’t do harm to anyone, isn’t it then a right of religious freedom to be allowed to wear it, and isn’t it a mere right to try to enter your desired career path (that you have the necessary qualifications for) wearing this?

A ‘no’ to these questions would be a contradiction to the basic rights and liberties of Western democracies. One cannot take away the rights of a group of people because one doesn’t like their religion. That is inequality, and inequality is definitely non consistent with democracy.

Now. The decision reached after all these discussions and debates, was a ‘NO’ to hijab in the police. It was not just a ‘no’ to the use of hijab in the police; it is also a ‘no’ to hijab wearing Muslim women in any other profession that requires face-to-face contact with the people. Why? A huge part of the negative opinions on the use of hijab in the police was not opinions that restricted themselves to this in particular. The debate displayed a frightening attitude towards the hijab itself, people’s views on the hijab is not favorable at all. The opposition to this proposal of allowing hijab in the police, and the following withdrawal of the proposal will lead to one thing only. People will have fewer scruples when it comes to discrimination on the basis of religious identity in hiring to any field, and this will result in even less opportunities for Muslim women choosing the hijab. The decision of dropping the proposal is of giving into the tyranny of the majority and thus limiting the rights of a certain group of people, is something that really doesn’t belong in a society with strong democratic values.

Shame on you for playing the hijab and the professional fates of Muslim women as a political card.