Daily Times

The International Hijab Day is observed in Pakistan along with most Muslim countries on August 5 to rally behind the ritual of head covering that has become controversial over the years owing to fundamentalism and then terrorism making inroads into Muslim culture. Not all Muslim women cover their heads but those who come from conservative families or are forced to do so because of a prevalent Islamic culture as is the case in Saudi Arabia, adorn the head cover as a mark of piety and modesty. However, whether hijab helps attain these objectives is debatable and has in fact been the cause of conflict between those who believe religious symbols are important and those who consider piety a state of mind that does not require outward manifestations. Hijab has drawn more controversy than perhaps any other religious symbol in recent history. The celebration of International Hijab Day is one example.

In Pakistan the Jamaat-e-Islami has been the leading Islamic organisation in arranging and conducting seminars and rallies to celebrate the day. The leadership of the Jamaat is critical of western culture, its influence and policies. This discourse has gained strength since the west began to perceive militant Islam as antithetical to its evolved secular values. The wheel of history in regards to women in the Muslim world appears to be moving backwards. The misguided attempts in Europe to ban religious symbols like the headscarf has only served to harden Muslim attitudes into a religious ‘ghetto’. A better option may have been to allow history to take its course along the lines of education, broader horizons, and freer choice.

The appearance of a veiled Egyptian woman on state television in Egypt has raised many eyebrows and drawn criticism from across Egypt and the world. The fact is that this is a reversal of Egypt’s secular rules that the new Muslim Brotherhood government seems to have started challenging. It is also a fact that with increasing religiosity spreading throughout the Muslim world, more and more Egyptian women in recent times have taken to the hijab. The old rules meant many were deprived of the right to appear as newscasters, etc. The best approach again is to allow a free play of ideas, open debate and allowing people to choose their way of life. Many Muslim women consider hijab a safety net that gives them a sense of security while moving among men. By overcoming societal fears associated with sexual harassment, hijab or issues related to such religious symbols could be amicably resolved. Suppression and bans only lead to a more conservative outcome. Enlightenment may be the ultimate answer. *