Voice of British Muslim Women

Kholood Tahir, Morden

The latest in France’s long-standing history of issues against Muslim Women, has been the voting on the “Separatism Bill” which bans girls under the age of 18 from wearing a hijab in public places. Ironically, under the guise of protecting and liberating young Muslim girls from Islam, which itself teaches, the bill takes away bodily autonomy, free will and the right to choose from them and oppresses them to conform to look a certain way.

In the hopes of secular liberty, the French Senate should not forget that diversity and differences are things to be celebrated, not suppressed. Schools should reflect the diverse world we live in. As a Muslim girl myself, who was fortunate enough to learn in an environment here in the UK where differences were respected, it saddens me to think of the toll this decision will have on an already vulnerable minority. Not once did my wearing the hijab hinder me from partaking in anything at school, I was perfectly able to thrive socially and academically, all whilst wearing a hijab.

It really is absurd that in the 21st Century, others are still trying to regulate and decide how a woman should dress. Encapsulated in the words of His Holiness Mirza Masoor Ahmad, current worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, “Is it such a heinous crime to cover one’s head and chin with a piece of cloth, that an entire Parliament should sit to pass a law against it?”