This week, more post-Sherbini hijab solidarity (and a plea against its politicization), greater rights for women in polygynous marriages in South Africa, and no Eid public holidays in New York City schools, says Mayor Michael Bloomberg
The London-based Assembly for the Protection of Hijab announced that it plans to change International Hijab Solidarity Day from September (the month that originally marked the French law banning girls from wearing the hijab in school) to July 1, in recognition of Marwa Sherbini’s death.
On Wednesday the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that Muslim women involved in polygynous marriages can now inherit a share of their deceased husband’s estate.
In Nigeria, the Federation Of Muslim Women’s Associations (FOMWAN) renewed its pledge to advocate for the education of girls and women, and women’s health issues.
In an opinion piece this week, Sabria S. Jawhar of Saudi Arabia wrote about the politicization of the hijab by western countries. “The hijab, the burqa, or the niqab that a Muslim woman wears, is not a political weapon to be used by governments to wage their battles of ideology. And I, for one, want my hijab back. Wearing it is my choice and nobody’s business but my own.”
In New York this week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided against a city council recommendation to allow public schools to close on both Eids. And in Oregon, Muslim activists are stepping up to protest a call by the Oregonian legislature to prohibit school teachers from wearing the headscarf in public schools.
Rabea Chaudhry is Associate Editor of Altmuslimah
