ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami organized a rally outside the National Press Club in Islamabad on Monday to commemorate International Hijab Day, shedding light on the importance of the hijab (the veil) as both a religious and human right for women. The International Hijab Day is being observed every year on September 4.
The rally, led by Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Sirajul Haq and Mrs. Durdana Siddiqui, the Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Women Wing, brought together women holding banners and placards in support of the hijab. These banners carried slogans advocating the significance of the hijab and emphasized it as a guardian of women’s rights. Alongside these messages, participants displayed the flags of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
The observance of International Hijab Day coincides with the remembrance of Marva Al-Shirbini, a symbol of the hijab who tragically lost her life when she was stabbed in a court of law by a racist German Islamophobe. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by women who choose to wear the hijab and the importance of defending their right to do so.
🇵🇰 🧕International Hijab Day Observed in Islamabad to Affirm Significance of Hijab@SirajOfficial @JIPOfficial
👉 https://t.co/GCupe8uPgx#InternationalHijabDay2023 #Islamabad #Hijab #SirajulHaq pic.twitter.com/SY4nmP7HfB
— WE News English (@WENewsEnglish) September 4, 2023
Significance of Observing Hijab Day
Hijab, the veil, holds deep cultural and religious significance for millions of women worldwide. In many cultures, it is an integral part of daily life. For Muslim women, the hijab represents not only a basic human right but also a religious obligation.
Addressing the gathering, Sirajul Haq highlighted the global challenges faced by women who choose to wear the hijab, asserting that it is not merely a religious symbol but an essential component of their identity. He emphasized that denying women the right to wear the hijab is a direct infringement on their religious and human rights.
In recent years, concerns have arisen as some countries, including France and Germany, have enacted measures that restrict Muslim women’s autonomy by banning the hijab. These actions have drawn criticism for being inconsistent with the principles of religious freedom and human rights, as outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
