Hijab

Hijab (Veil): Hijab (Veil):

Is it a symbol of Is it a symbol of oppression or a oppression or a

sign of liberation?sign of liberation?

Sherjan P. Kalim, MD, DPSPSherjan P. Kalim, MD, DPSPAssociate Pathologist, Laboratory Dept Associate Pathologist, Laboratory Dept

Cotabato Regional and Medical CenterCotabato Regional and Medical Center

• ""It is very painfulIt is very painful. On my part, it was the first time I removed my veil and . On my part, it was the first time I removed my veil and every time I go to duty, every time I go to duty, I feel a burden in my heartI feel a burden in my heart, there is also fear, like , there is also fear, like we are being deprived of our right to use our veil. We cannot perform our we are being deprived of our right to use our veil. We cannot perform our skills very well in nursing because we are not used to remove our veils and skills very well in nursing because we are not used to remove our veils and interact with those patients, so interact with those patients, so there’s a lot of pain in our heartsthere’s a lot of pain in our hearts," Guldam ," Guldam said, recalling the incident last year.said, recalling the incident last year.

• However, some of the hospitals reasoned that the However, some of the hospitals reasoned that the veil was dirty veil was dirty and could become a and could become a vehicle to transmit vehicle to transmit microorganisms to patientsmicroorganisms to patients.. It would also It would also not conform to the standard nurse's cap and uniformnot conform to the standard nurse's cap and uniform..

Further, Guldam said that, mostly out of ignorance about their religion than anything else, Further, Guldam said that, mostly out of ignorance about their religion than anything else, Clinical Clinical Instructors (CI) discouraged the wearing of hijab because patients would allegedly become scared or Instructors (CI) discouraged the wearing of hijab because patients would allegedly become scared or traumatized when they see some of the nurses wearing veils since they would instantly think of traumatized when they see some of the nurses wearing veils since they would instantly think of terroriststerrorists..

Fearing for their grades or being too shy to question the policy, some Muslim students took to bringing along Fearing for their grades or being too shy to question the policy, some Muslim students took to bringing along spare hijabs, just to prove it was clean. spare hijabs, just to prove it was clean. Some even dropped out from nursing duty in hospitals that Some even dropped out from nursing duty in hospitals that disallowed them from wearing their veilsdisallowed them from wearing their veils. Gamson Quiano, Vice President of the Muslim Students . Gamson Quiano, Vice President of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and a senior Radiologic Technology student, said even Muslim students taking up Association (MSA) and a senior Radiologic Technology student, said even Muslim students taking up dentistry, hotel and restaurant management, and medical technology were affected by the no-hijab dentistry, hotel and restaurant management, and medical technology were affected by the no-hijab policypolicy..

• Warina Jukuy, a peace advocate and member of the Philippine Alliance of Human Warina Jukuy, a peace advocate and member of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), explains that the hijab is an integral part of a Muslim Rights Advocates (PAHRA), explains that the hijab is an integral part of a Muslim woman's life.woman's life.

"For Muslims, excepting the face, and the hands, all are considered private. If you "For Muslims, excepting the face, and the hands, all are considered private. If you compel us to take off our hijab, and expose our hair, it is compel us to take off our hijab, and expose our hair, it is tantamount to exposing tantamount to exposing our private parts. To put it bluntly, you are asking us to take off our our private parts. To put it bluntly, you are asking us to take off our unmentionables, our panties.unmentionables, our panties. That is how grave it is, with the hijab, so I think any That is how grave it is, with the hijab, so I think any reasonable person would really understand if it can only be explained that way, the reasonable person would really understand if it can only be explained that way, the impact of taking off their veil," she said.impact of taking off their veil," she said.

U.N.’s Policy on Religious DefamationU.N.’s Policy on Religious Defamation

• On March 26, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) On March 26, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) approved a resolution seeking to curb religious defamation by classifying it as approved a resolution seeking to curb religious defamation by classifying it as a human rights violation. The text said a human rights violation. The text said "defamation of religion is a serious "defamation of religion is a serious affront to human dignity leading to a restriction on the freedom of their affront to human dignity leading to a restriction on the freedom of their adherents and incitement to religious violence." adherents and incitement to religious violence."

• This was pushed for by Pakistan, with support from Belarus and Venezuela, This was pushed for by Pakistan, with support from Belarus and Venezuela, in behalf of all Muslim countries. Those opposed to the resolution were in behalf of all Muslim countries. Those opposed to the resolution were mainly Western nations since they said it would restrict freedom of speech. mainly Western nations since they said it would restrict freedom of speech. Representatives of Pakistan, however, said there should be a "delicate Representatives of Pakistan, however, said there should be a "delicate balance" between freedom of speech and religious rights. The UNHCR is balance" between freedom of speech and religious rights. The UNHCR is composed of 47 member states.composed of 47 member states.

• Dorothy Peart, Roman Catholic Nun,Dorothy Peart, Roman Catholic Nun, "I come in my hijab, but I'm not a Muslim, I'm a Catholic nun. "I come in my hijab, but I'm not a Muslim, I'm a Catholic nun. And I believe this is all part of a move to eliminate God from And I believe this is all part of a move to eliminate God from society be they Christian or Muslim. And it is only God that can society be they Christian or Muslim. And it is only God that can make the new order that's worth living in. The new world order make the new order that's worth living in. The new world order of the secular state without God is going to be a horrible place, a of the secular state without God is going to be a horrible place, a tyranny, there would be no freedom, no freedom to worship tyranny, there would be no freedom, no freedom to worship God who gave us everything. And this is why I have come to God who gave us everything. And this is why I have come to support the wearing of the hijab by the Muslim people."support the wearing of the hijab by the Muslim people."

Similarity of Similarity of Muslim mode of dressing Muslim mode of dressing

with Catholic religiouswith Catholic religious

Qur-an 33:59Qur-an 33:59

• "O Prophet! Tell "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy wives and daughters, and the daughters, and the believing womenbelieving women, , that they that they should should cast their outer cast their outer garments over their garments over their personspersons...that they ...that they should be knownshould be known and and not molestednot molested."."

Qur-an 24:30-31Qur-an 24:30-31

• "Say to the believing men that they "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the modesty...And say to the believing believing women that they should lower their women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modestygaze and guard their modesty; ;

that they that they should not display their beauty should not display their beauty and adornmentsand adornments except what (must except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; ordinarily) appear thereof;

that they that they should draw their veils over should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their beauty except to their husbands, their fathersfathers...(a list of exceptions)"...(a list of exceptions)"

• Is this Violence Against Women?Is this Violence Against Women?• white slavery?white slavery?• prostitution? prostitution?

Minimum Minimum Requirements for Requirements for Muslim Women's Muslim Women's

DressDress::

1) Clothing must 1) Clothing must cover the entire bodycover the entire body, with the , with the exceptionexception of the of the face and the handsface and the hands. . – Hadith:Hadith:

• "...If the woman reaches the age of puberty, "...If the woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should no part of her body should be seen but this --- and he pointed to his face and handsbe seen but this --- and he pointed to his face and hands." ."

2) The attire should 2) The attire should not be form fittingnot be form fitting, sheer or so eye-, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape of the body. of the body.

NiqabNiqab BurqaBurqa

Q. Does Islamic dress imply that Q. Does Islamic dress imply that women are submissive or inferior to men, women are submissive or inferior to men,

or treat women as 2nd class citizens?or treat women as 2nd class citizens?

• A: Islamic dress is one of many rights granted to women. A: Islamic dress is one of many rights granted to women. Modest clothing is worn in obedience to GodModest clothing is worn in obedience to God and has and has nothing to do with submissiveness to men. It is a nothing to do with submissiveness to men. It is a mistaken impression that wearing hijab is an indication mistaken impression that wearing hijab is an indication of inferior status. of inferior status.

• Muslim men and women have similar rights and Muslim men and women have similar rights and obligations and both submit to God. obligations and both submit to God.

Gender Equality in IslamGender Equality in Islam

• ““And whoever does righteous good deeds, And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or femalemale or female, and is a true believer in the , and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allah, such will enter paradise; and Oneness of Allah, such will enter paradise; and not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck on the back of a date stone, will be done to them.” on the back of a date stone, will be done to them.” (Quran 4:124)(Quran 4:124)

• everyone recognizes that there are inherent indisputable everyone recognizes that there are inherent indisputable differences between men and women.  They are not differences between men and women.  They are not identical; men and women are naturally different in identical; men and women are naturally different in many ways.  many ways. 

Natural Differences Natural Differences between Men and Women between Men and Women

• There are differences in clothing requirements as well, since the There are differences in clothing requirements as well, since the physical appearance of men and women is dissimilar. physical appearance of men and women is dissimilar. 

• Men are prohibited from wearing gold and silk while women are Men are prohibited from wearing gold and silk while women are allowed to, as it is women’s nature to beautify themselves.  allowed to, as it is women’s nature to beautify themselves. 

• Women are exempted from fasting and prayer during their Women are exempted from fasting and prayer during their menstrual period. menstrual period. 

• Friday prayer is obligatory for men but optional for women.  Friday prayer is obligatory for men but optional for women. 

• Men must spend their money on the family but a Men must spend their money on the family but a woman’s money is entirely her own to spend as she chooses.  woman’s money is entirely her own to spend as she chooses. 

Rights of Women in IslamRights of Women in Islam

• have the right to own property, to control their own money or money have the right to own property, to control their own money or money that they earn, to buy and sell, and to give gifts and charity.  that they earn, to buy and sell, and to give gifts and charity. 

• They have formal rights of inheritance.  They have formal rights of inheritance.  

• They have the right to education; seeking and acquiring knowledge is an They have the right to education; seeking and acquiring knowledge is an obligation on all Muslims, male or female.  obligation on all Muslims, male or female.  

• They are in no way forced into marriage, but have the right to accept or They are in no way forced into marriage, but have the right to accept or refuse a proposal as they see fit. refuse a proposal as they see fit.

• Married Muslim women are completely free from the obligation of Married Muslim women are completely free from the obligation of supporting and maintaining the family, yet may work if they wish too.supporting and maintaining the family, yet may work if they wish too.

• have the right to seek divorce if it becomes necessary, as they also have have the right to seek divorce if it becomes necessary, as they also have the right to save their marriages.the right to save their marriages.

Q. Is Islamic dress appropriate for Q. Is Islamic dress appropriate for modern times?modern times?

• A: Islamic dress is modern and practical. Muslim A: Islamic dress is modern and practical. Muslim women wearing Islamic dress work and study women wearing Islamic dress work and study without any problems or constraints. without any problems or constraints.

What issues do What issues do Muslim women Muslim women

face in the face in the workplace?workplace?

head scarf violated the

rules on uniforms

Florence Florence NightingaleNightingale

Veils of NunsVeils of Nuns

• Is treated as hairIs treated as hair• Surgical cap is Surgical cap is

placed over the placed over the veilveil

"Inter-Faith Gown""Inter-Faith Gown"• is the first of its type in Britain and has been trialed is the first of its type in Britain and has been trialed

at the Royal Preston Hospital. It will be available to at the Royal Preston Hospital. It will be available to those who want it.those who want it.

• The gown could be adapted to show a user's whole The gown could be adapted to show a user's whole face, or to expose only a strip across the eyeline.face, or to expose only a strip across the eyeline.

• is the brainchild of Karen Jacob, the linen services is the brainchild of Karen Jacob, the linen services manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.Foundation Trust.

Shukran (Thank you)Shukran (Thank you)Wassalam (and Peace)Wassalam (and Peace)