I started a series of blogs in which I try to simply explain a topic or an issue. This issue might be religious, political, social, or even cultural. I am not an expert but I will introduce to you a simple explanation from a different cultural perspective that might help in promoting mutual understanding. Sometimes when we understand others’ points of view or simply put ourselves in others’ shoes, we can understand their behavior and thinking.

A hijab or headscarf is considered to be one of the symbols of Islam. Some see that any woman who wears a hijab is a Muslim by default. While others see the hijab as a symbol of oppression and patriarchy. Apart from this, I will try to explain what a hijab is and how different people see it.

A Hijab is simply a head scarf that Muslim women are obligated by Islamic law to wear. We can consider it as an Islamic requirement like praying and fasting which God asked Muslim women to do. Women accordingly are obliged after puberty to wear it outside the house and in front of strange men who are not from her “Mahram” or male guardian who must be of a degree of kinship that makes marriage between them forbidden.[1] Women are not obliged to wear it in front of other women as long as they are in the house not outside. The hijab is associated with a full body cover. So, women should be covered up completely except for their face and hands. In the Quran, there is no exact description of how this cover-up must be. Basically, it must be neither tight nor sheer. In this aspect, there are many interpretations and every woman wears what suits her and helps her to maintain her relationship with God.

There are different opinions within the Muslim society itself about hijab. Some people see it as not a requirement or an obligation but a community tradition. They try to bring up different narratives and opinions to support their thoughts. But let’s be honest anyone who reads the Quran without any biases will accept the fact that hijab is an obligation. Besides, no one Muslim Imam has said that hijab is not an obligation. On the other side, you will find people who say that hijab means full “black” coverage including the face and the hands which is known as “Niqab” or “Burqa”. This opinion is not backed by the majority of the Imams especially that women are not demanded to wear such a cloth while praying but on the contrary, she is obliged to show her face while praying. Between the two extremes, you will find normal girls and women who wear hijab with full respect and they are convinced not forced. These girls vary in their styles from wearing jeans to abaya.[2] They are proud of what they are and do not want anyone to interfere in their choices. For them the hijab is their hair, so can you leave their hair alone?

Have you ever experienced a situation in which someone or an authority tells you, you are not allowed to cut your hair? Or you are not allowed to dye it? Or it should be a certain length? I don’t think that anyone has ever witnessed such a thing – except for North Korea, I think. And if someone experiences such a thing, s/he will say it is a discriminatory act.  But women with hijab constantly experienced that discriminatory act because they simply chose to cover up their hair.

I have worn Hijab since I was 15. I chose it freely without any kind of oppression, suggestion, or even advice. I really get upset when I see the most democratic countries in the world oppress women with hijab because they simply have another definition of freedom and liberation. Girls are asked to take off their hijab before going to school or before playing sports. They are asked to take off their faith and their freedom of choice which is guaranteed by the Human Rights Declaration and several constitutions around the world. They are asked to choose between their beliefs and their future and sadly they are the only ones who have to do so.

I hope that this ends soon and that all the institutions and persons look at woman without any kind of discrimination. To look at her as a human and to respect the differences. To stop looking at women with the hijab as oppressed and stop trying to “help” them by oppressing them to take off their “Head Scarf”. Empowerment is the key not imposition.

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[1] In Islam they are basically: father, brothers, sons, uncles, pre-puberty child and others with specific cases like the father-in-law.

[2] Long, sleeved, lose cloth that looks like a dress