Muslims ask for protection law on veils

Apr 13, 2012

Muslims have asked government to enact a law that protects their right to wear veils both at work and in public institutions like schools.

By Saudha Nakandha

Muslims have asked government to enact a law that protects their right to wear veils both at work and in public institutions like schools.

"We need to embrace the true Islamic identity and teachings. There is nothing wrong with dressing like a Muslim and keeping your job. We need a law to protect our sisters' right to wearing veils," Kassim Matovu, an official representing the Muslim Students' Association of Uganda said.

Matovu was speaking at the third annual Muslim sisters' conference organized by Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum (UMYDF) at Makerere University last week.

The conference that was aimed at mentoring young women in control of challenges and identifying opportunities was attended by young Muslim women from the different universities across the country.

Matovu observed that on various occasions, Muslim women have been fired from their jobs because they refuse to remove their veils.

Ahmed Hadji, a team leader at UMYDF urged Muslim leaders to spearhead the talks with government for such a law to be put in place if people's cultures and beliefs are to be protected.

He urged employers to be lenient with people's beliefs especially the Muslim women who wear veils if their recruitment is geared towards equal opportunities.

Recently, a lecturer at Makerere University blocked a female Muslim student who refused to unveil from sitting an examination.

Such an incident also occurred in Masaka where two female students from Masaka Comprehensive Nursing School were forced out of a lecture room on grounds that the institution was not training Muslim clerics.

The veil signifies a woman's respect and dignity in public and in the Koran 23:30-31, the practice of veiling means lowering one’s gaze and guarding modesty by Muslim women.

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