he Authorities must take a stronger stance in stopping the imposition of costume codes on Muslim ladies, a suppose tank has stated.
A brand new report by Coverage Alternate discusses how Islamist teams have dominated the discourse surrounding non secular clothes within the UK and past, probably limiting the liberty of selection for Muslim ladies in issues of clothes.
The suppose tank emphasises how public worry of Islamophobia can result in Islamist teams stifling open debate about non secular apparel within the UK, though ladies in lots of Islamic international locations are protesting in opposition to the hijab’s imposition as an oppressive garment.
The report, titled The Symbolic Energy of the Veil, recommends the Authorities ought to present clearer steering to colleges concerning costume codes and non secular apparel, and supply examples.
How are we going to criticise the dangerous features of social and non secular practices and customs if the rapid response is accusations of Islamophobia?
Beneath such steering, the suppose tank says, faculties might accommodate non secular headwear such because the hijab, however they need to not require it as a part of the uniform.
In accordance with the report, the Authorities also needs to resist any definition of Islamophobia that restricts criticism of non secular practices, together with the costume code.
The important thing findings and proposals within the report are backed by Labour MP Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr), who stated: “A sure proportion of Muslim ladies might want to put on a hijab or a niqab to publicly reveal their Muslim id.
“However the carrying of the hijab clearly doesn’t characterize all Muslim ladies. And it’s grossly insensitive to these Muslim ladies in Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere who’re compelled in opposition to their needs to put on the hijab to declare that it does.”
One other suggestion is that the Authorities ought to keep away from endorsing or selling particular non secular apparel.
It singles out the Overseas Workplace for celebrating World Hijab Day in 2018, with hijabs being distributed amongst civil servants.
The report’s writer, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia and senior fellow at Coverage Alternate, Sir John Jenkins, stated: “Latest occasions in Iran have revealed as soon as once more not simply the symbolic energy of Islamic veiling and different vestimentary codes but in addition the best way they are often – and are – deployed to self-discipline people, teams and certainly total societies within the pursuits of authoritarian and unaccountable political and non secular elites.”
The report’s co-author, human rights advocate Professor Elham Manea, added: “Freedom of opinion and speech isn’t some sort of additional, for use as a cheerful slogan each time we see match.
“It has a function: to talk fact to energy, to problem hegemonic authoritarian and non secular orders, and to push for reforms and for the safety of particular person fundamental rights.
“How are we going to criticise the dangerous features of social and non secular practices and customs if the rapid response is accusations of Islamophobia?”