Think-Tank Urges Government Intervention to Prevent Imposition of Veils on Muslim Women
Policy Exchange has stated that the government should consider the oppressive nature of certain Muslim religious dress and its promotion by Islamic groups with ‘contestable’ views.
According to a new report (pdf) by Policy Exchange, the government needs to take a stronger stance to prevent the imposition of dress codes on Muslim women. The report warns that Islamist groups have dominated the discussion surrounding religious clothing in the UK and beyond, potentially limiting the freedom of choice for Muslim women. It highlights that women in many Islamic countries, such as Iran, are protesting against the hijab being forced upon them as an oppressive garment.
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The report highlights that the United Kingdom does not have blanket bans on the burqa or hijab like some European countries, but there are situations where Islamic headdress may be restricted due to health and safety or identification reasons.
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood supports the report’s findings and recommendations, emphasizing that the hijab does not represent all Muslim women and can be grossly insensitive to those compelled to wear it against their wishes in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Sir John Jenkins, the report’s author and former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, states that recent events in Iran demonstrate the symbolic power of Islamic veiling and its deployment by authoritarian and religious elites. Professor Elham Manea, the report’s co-author and a human rights advocate, emphasizes the importance of freedom of opinion and speech in challenging authoritarian and religious orders. The report concludes that the Islamic veil can be used as a tool of oppression and that its symbolism undermines diverse Islamic viewpoints and Western liberal democracy.
