Hands Off My Identity

On April 04 2021, The French Senate, or the upper house of Parliament, proposed the ban of adorning the hijab by minors (under 18) in public places. This amendment to the “Separatism” bill of the French constitution, also extends itself by preventing hijabi mothers from accompanying their children to school or their school trips, forbid burkinis at public beaches/swimming pools, and also restrict Muslim females with hijab from participating in sports activities. This is in addition to the previously banned Hijab worn by students attending French public schools since 2004 and the face-covering (Niqab) since 2010.

According to the bill, “prohibition in the public space of any conspicuous religious sign by minors and of any dress or clothing which would signify an interiorization of women over men”. Before you question that there’s no mention of “Hijab” in the bill and that it is addressed generally, let us first understand what is hijab.

Hijab in a literal sense is an Arabic word for partition, which in broader explanation, is a complete modest dress code. But commonly, the name Hijab is used for a veil that is adorned by Muslim women to cover their head, neck and chest; and to protect themselves from the unwanted gaze of men, excluding their fathers, brothers, sons, grandfathers, and uncles. It is a form of modesty exercised by Muslim females after they attain puberty, which is very much before they turn 18. Furthermore, Niqab is a face covering which covers the entire face except for the eyes, and a Burqa is a full loose-fitting body covering.

Back to the proposed bill. The “religious sign…[ ] of any dress or clothing” mentioned in the bill is an indirect way of saying the hijab. President Emmanuel Macron believes that the hijab was not as per French ideals, and a ban on face coverings (Niqab) would “empower” women. The latest proposals come as France attempts to introduce a so-called "anti-separatism" law, which aims to strengthen the country's secular values.

This kind of action in the name of laïcité or French secularism is a general strategy used by conservative forces to test social responses and determine how and when to advance their responses, regardless of whether the response is seen as a symbolic example of data collection or actual implementation attempt to legalise it. The proposal is shocking. Although the law is unlikely to be approved by the National Assembly, the second branch of the French bicameral legislature, which by the way has it opposed, we must not forget that the law might not be passed this year, but there is still a chance of that in the future. It can be seen from the origins of other current anti-Islamic laws in France.

Nevertheless, it has infuriated the Muslim community of the French population, especially Muslim women, who are tired of the government regulating how they dress up in public. Remember your neighbourhood aunty gossiping with the rest of the neighbourhood aunties on how tight/short/shabby your clothes are? Gossiping about the fact that you don’t have any shame or not decent enough just by how much skin you’re showing or the figure you’re revealing? Yeah, take that and completely invert it, where a government of a country is banning modest coverings of the face, head and also the body for the sake of “empowering oppressed” women.

Shortly after the news went viral across the globe, Muslim women from various parts of the world showed solidarity with the French Muslim women by sensationalizing “#HandsOffMyHijab”. This came in when Somali Norwegian model Rawdah Mohamed (Pictured) posted a selfie with the phrase “Hands Off My Hijab” written on her outstretched palm, which became a slogan. She posted her selfie and a caption urging Muslim females to talk about their stories and speak up for their rights. She further added the discrimination and bullying she faced throughout her life, ever since from young age, for the fact that she used to wear hijab.

Not only France, countries like Switzerland have narrowly voted in favour of banning face coverings in public, including the burqa or niqab. The wearing of Islamic veils in public has been a controversial topic in other European countries. The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Bulgaria have put in place full or partial bans on wearing face coverings in public.

The main problem here is, why am I, me being a hijabi, not allowed to wear a hijab? What potential threat can I pose to society by covering my hair, neck, chest, shoulder and face, with a piece of cotton cloth? How can a piece of clothing covering a body modestly be deemed as a criminal offence? If models can wear satin scarves for fashion runways and become trendsetters, then why is my hijab, which is an almost similar style to the scarf, be a crime? If teens can wear a beanie and neck scarf to school and be all cool, why can’t a similar fashion be followed with Muslim girls to wear hijab to school? According to the French President’s and French Government’s logic; the models, trendsetters, and teens who wear satin scarves and beanies should be then considered “oppressed” and should be “empowered” too!

If the age for sexual consent in France is 15, then why is the consent of hijab in France 18? A French politician supported the bill saying that “It is not up to the parents to impose dogmas on their children”, which pretty much contradicts international human rights standards, which guarantees “the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their convictions." And also, even if I’m wearing it willingly without my parents asking me to, I still can’t wear the hijab because it is banned at school. Good reasoning Mr Politician.

On a side note, in this world of toxic patriarchy, which is frequently misunderstood to have been subsiding, but is only have been covered up and remained steadfast. Over the years, women not only have been objectified by the male counterpart but also their way of lifestyle is being regulated under the context of societal social norms. Who made these norms in the first place? Norms are man-made, I repeat, MAN-made. Irrespective of religion or regions, women are often subjected to comments by the way they dress. She is mocked as an old fashioned personality if a female is seen wearing loose-fitting clothes or oversized clothes. If she is wearing fitting clothes or anything that shows her skin, she is subjected to be “a show-off who wants to attract attention”. Amidst the hypocrisy of “Patriarchy is dying”, listing a set of rules for women so that they fit in the society seems to be an immortal practice.

Under the pretext of “empowering” women, men have the majority say in making law and passing it. This indirectly shows how the majority, especially the majority being men in the French Senate, has a huge approval to the proposed bill which is regulating a woman’s way of dressing. To put in simpler understanding, your way of living life is being controlled by your colony secretary uncle and the neighbourhood association, because you and your family live in their neighbourhood, and you’ve to quietly need to listen to them if you want to live there.

Again the question arises, why propose such kind of bill in the first place? The Parliament believes it will boost the country’s secular values, and ultimately also “empower” women. But secular by definition means “not connected with religious or spiritual matters”. This contradicts the statement given in the bill “prohibition in the public space of any conspicuous religious sign by minors and of any dress or clothing which would signify an interiorization of women over men”. And as for “empowering” women, the very decision has deprived them of giving any opinions. This bill is not only controversial, but it is also contradictory for the reasons given.

Does this seem to be a good idea? Absolutely Not. A French Muslim lady has her right to dress how she wants to, completely snatched away. She now has to dress up how the government expects her to. All of this without her opinion or approval. Apart from this, A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY is targeted. The government wanted to strengthen secular values, but instead failed, and seems to be dividing the citizens based on their lifestyle. This not only invited backlash from the French Muslim community but also from the Muslim community around the world.

The bill is also amplifying the racial abuse against the community, which has grown quite alarmingly over the years. If she is wearing a hijab, she is termed as “oppressed”, “a victim of oppression”, or the worst, “a terrorist”. A single piece of cloth on the head draws a lot of unnecessary verbal abuse. And also, in few cases, the physical violence of ripping off the hijab forcefully by peers. It is quite sad that even living in the 21st century, people still have utter disrespect towards people coming from different walks of life, and unfortunately, women are often subjected to disrespect, resulting in abuse towards them.

Finally yet importantly, if you want to empower Muslim women, it is way better and less tedious if you ask the Muslim women’s opinions first. Since the matter is related to us, we can give you better solutions and suggestions to empower us. Regulating our way of styling in public isn’t a way of empowering us. That’s just oppressing us, which you claim to do otherwise. Also empowering us doesn’t include forcefully ripping off our hijab, and inflicting violence on us. Giving us the RIGHT to live life how we want to, empowers us. Giving us protection from abuse empowers us. Seeking opinion and including our representatives during the decision making empowers us. Not regulating and banning a major part of our daily lifestyle, and making it hard for us with the resulting racial abuse. Banning a piece of cloth won’t save you trouble, instead, you’re inviting mass criticism, an outcry against you.

I leave you with few words.

Hands off my hijab. Hands off my modest clothing. Hands off my way of conversing with The Almighty. Hands off my rights. Hands off my IDENTITY.

• Irum Fathima, 3rd Year EEE

#HandsOffMyHijab #HijabBan #MyHijabMyChoice

References:

1. (2021, April 9). 'Law against Islam': French vote in favour of hijab ban ... - Al Jazeera. from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/9/a-law-against-islam

1. (2021, April 5). France votes to ban the hijab for anyone under the age of 18 .... Retrieved from https://emirateswoman.com/france-votes-ban-hijab-anyone-age-18/