A campaign has been launched following an official decision to uphold a ban on head coverings in Belgian higher education on June 4. Tunisia's Fight for Gender Equality, A Voice Unsilenced: Saudi Women Advocating Their Rights, 1990-2017, What 5 Muslim Women Think About Dolce & Gabbana's New Hijab Line. They have taken to the streets to demonstrate the right for women to dress how they please and to do what they want with their bodies. Belgium’s ban on burqas and other full-face Islamic veils has been upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.. It is time to start viewing the hijab as “powerful” and “beautiful” instead of “oppressed” and “dangerous.” The fight for women’s rights includes ALL women, not just the ones society picks and chooses. People protested it by using hashtags such as, #TouchePasAMesEtudes (Don’t touch my studies) and #HijabisFightBack. France and Belgium have enacted a similar ban since 2011. Some of these Universities are: the University of Brussels and the Catholic University of Leuven. Through this online movement, images On July 11, 2017, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) upheld Belgium's ban on burqas and full-face veils. They can be fined €30,000 fine and one year in prison. Thousands of people gathered in Brussels on Sunday to protest against a ruling by Belgium’s Constitutional Court allowing higher education institutions to ban the hijab.. Hijab ban in European countries. This meant that Muslim women who wanted to pursue higher education were required by law to take off their hijab. “Some will, unfortunately, give up on their dreams,” the CEM stated about the Belgian court ruling. This is especially the case for Muslim women. Instead, we shame them and take away their rights to higher education. However, several Belgian Universities disagreed with that ruling. The recent rise of right-wing parties could be further exacerbating this issue. A woman’s body is nobody’s business but her own. Send petitions, emails, or tweets to world leaders. The word hijab refers to both the head-covering traditionally worn by some Muslim women and Islamic styles of dress in general. The decision has faced protests across social media through the hashtags #HijabisFightBack and #TouchePasAMesEtudes (Don’t touch my studies). At the start of June, the Constitutional Court of Belgium decided that the possibility of a headscarf ban was not contrary to the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Hamburg court rules against school niqab and burqa ban The ruling stopped a school's attempt to ban a 16-year-old girl from wearing a full-face veil during classes. In 2018, Austria banned full-face coverings in order to limit the visibility of orthodox Islam. universities in Belgium can now ban hijabs. On 4 June this year, the Belgian Constitutional Court authorised the banning of the Islamic headscarf in the Haute Ecole and all other visible religious, In the wake Headscarf ban: Belgian Muslim women are resisting in order to free themselves Kommentare . Both institutions have reassured their students that they are welcome to wear the hijab if they please. We have come around to praise women who show their bodies to the fullest – but, we have yet to do the same for those who choose to be modest. Using the hashtags #HijabisFightBack and #TouchePasAMesEtudes (Leave my education alone), activists are using social media to highlight the ban’s discriminatory and sexist impact. The court still decided to uphold its decision and does not plan on overturning it. On June 4, 2020, a campaign was launched following an official decision to uphold a ban on head coverings in higher education in Belgium. Women wanting to cover their hair should not be viewed as a threat. It started with France which in 2011 became the first European country to introduce a nationwide ban. The country is the second European Union nation after France to enforce such a ban. In Belgium, however, headscarf bans are not widespread, but recent Burkini and Burqa bans in neighboring countries have fueled an existing anti-Muslim, … Many protests broke out. Belgium Bans Hijab Meanwhile, the protestors maintained social distancing as well as wore mask. A recent example of this is a court ruling in Belgium, which prohibited the use of headscarves in higher education. The headscarf has become a contentious issue in many European countries — such as France, where the longstanding principle of laïcité (secularism) comes into play, and where social life is based on a definition of citizenship which negates individual particularities for the sake of equal treatment. If your Facebook account does not have an attached e-mail address, you'll need to add that before you can sign up. Religious symbols, including the hijab will be permitted in universities in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium starting September 2021, local officials announced, in a victory for anti-Islamophobia and Muslim women’s groups who have been fighting the ban for years. This meant that Muslim women who wanted to pursue higher education were required by law to take off their hijab. “We have to be politically involved -without wanting to be- because our basic rights are being taken away from us and we have no representative to do this for us. Belgium has in the past adopted similar restrictions, known as the “Burqa Ban,” like other European Union countries such as France and the Netherlands. On June 4, 2020, a campaign was launched following an official decision to uphold a ban on head coverings in higher education in Belgium. People started using the hashtag #HijabisFightBack, as well as #TouchePasAMesEtudes which translates to, “Don’t touch my studies.” Due to the brief attention that the media gave this situation, demonstrations broke out in Brussels as well. France has a long history of banning the hijab and different variations of the hijab, and still has a ban on the niqab. Themen Discrimination Hijab Racism Burqa Ban Muslim Belgium Access to Education Rassismus Gleichberechtigung Religionsfreiheit Headscarf Diskriminierung Kopftuch Belgien Sexism Chancengleichheit #HijabisFightBack Voile Bruxelles Islamophobie. Extreme poverty ends with you. A constitutional decision on June 4th has enabled a hijab ban in universities. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Brussels in recent days, following a constitutional decision to allow the banning of headscarves in Belgian universities. Not a Global Citizen yet? If you put two women together side by side, one wearing the hijab while the other is not, give them the same long-sleeved shirt and the same modest pants. Sign in to start taking action. Thanks for signing up as a global citizen. These institutions have publicly said that they will openly resist the ban and welcome all students with or without headscarves. Those who choose to cover their bodies and wear more should be respected and treated equally. Check out original content and videos published every day to help you learn about the issues that mean the most to you. Over 1000 people protested in Brussels against a court ruling allowing a ban on headscarves in universities pic.twitter.com/qopkxWVM6z. This is the most recent prohibition of Islamic clothing, a burgeoning trend across European countries. Banning the hijab implies that if you want to have access to anything or want to become anything great in life, you should not associate with Islam. #HijabisFightBack rang the rallying cry of students in Brussels against an effective ban of the headscarf in education. Burqinis (Muslim women's swimwear) are … Activists argue that these measures are harmful, restrict access to equal opportunities in the public sphere, and could exclude Muslim women from social life and education. Religious symbols, including the hijab will be permitted in universities in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium starting September 2021, local officials announced, in a victory for anti-Islamophobia and Muslim women’s groups who have been fighting the ban for years. A piece of clothing has threatened many “great” nations for centuries now. “Women are always the ones taking this kind of blow,” said Fatima-Zohra Ait El Maâti, feminist author and founding director of Imazi.Reine, in an interview with Vice. I guarantee you that the one wearing the hijab will be perceived differently and viewed as a “threat.” On the other hand, the woman without the hijab will be perceived as normal. Call governments or join rallies. We offer a variety of ways to make your voice heard. These groups of people consisted of women’s rights activists, anti-racist groups, and university students. Back in June of 2020, Belgium’s Constitutional Court officially ruled that a ban on religious symbols in higher education does not violate the European Convention on Human Rights. FIFA's ban of the head cover in 2011–2014 is an example of hijabophobia. These institutions have stressed that they will keep welcoming all students — regardless of their religion, gender, or social status. While many support and respect this movement, people still forget to include women who want to dress modestly. Welcome back! Limiting those with different beliefs from basic rights is barbaric. Hijab to many Muslims is a symbol of faith and modesty. In Belgium, however, headscarf bans are not widespread, but recent Burkini and Burqa bans in neighboring countries have fueled an existing anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant rhetoric that carries clout across Europe. In order to create your account we need you to provide your email address. This was criticized by police who were put in the position of charging people for wearing smog and ski masks. Keep updated on what they're doing to change the world. Thus, making it law to remove it in order to have access to higher education is beyond Islamophobic. Women’s rights groups have fought for many years to make it acceptable for ALL women to wear what they want. A ban on the hijab, turban and kippa is unfairly discriminatory towards particular ethnic groups – namely Jews, Sikhs and generally Muslims from a particular racial group. “And some will be forced to remove the hijab to get an education.”. With rising Islamophobia in Europe, it has become more challenging for Muslims to live life like any other people. There is no need to punish women for their choice of clothing that harms no one. Belgium: Belgium was the second country to ban the face veil at public places, they announced the ban in July 2011. The June 4 ruling states that the ban does not constitute a violation of the right to human dignity or to the right of religious freedom, as defined by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Those who choose to show their bodies and wear less should be respected and treated equally. Earlier this month, the Belgium Constitutional Court issued a ruling prohibiting the headscarf in higher education. What the Hijab ban in Belgium means for Muslim Women December 26, 2020 Issues 11 A few months ago in July, Belgium had announced a constitutional decision to allow the ban … Sign up. It was followed by Belgium, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany and Denmark. However, the possibility for a ban does not only apply to headscarves, but to all symbols expressing religious or political opinions. The statement asked the Belgian authorities to take Muslim women into account when making laws. Belgium has specific bans on the face-covering dress, such as the niqab or burqa. What the Hijab ban in Belgium means for Muslim Women December 26, 2020 Issues 9 A few months ago in July, Belgium had announced a constitutional decision to allow the ban of hijabs in colleges and universities. And in early June, the Belgian Constitutional Court announced that the Francisco Ferrer Institute could impose a ban on all religious symbols, including the hijab. Muslim students have also petitioned the Francisco Ferrer Brussels University college to challenge the ruling. Austria.