MEMRI September 2, 2015 Special Dispatch No.6147
Editor Of Jordanian Daily Jumana Ghunaimat: Forcing Women To Wear The Hijab
Infringes On Their Freedom
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/8727.htm

In a recent article, Jumana Ghunaimat, the editor of the Jordanian daily
Al-Ghad, came out against the practice in some Jordanian institutions and
private businesses to compel women – both Muslim and non-Muslim – to wear
the hijab. Ghunaimat argued that forcing women to wear the hijab is just as
wrong as prohibiting them from doing so, as is done in some Western
countries. She claimed further that the decision whether to wear the hijab
or not is a personal one that should be taken by each woman based on her
inclinations and beliefs. She stressed that she herself would refuse to
comply with such a rule, since freedom is not a matter for bargaining.

Below are excerpts from the article:[1]

"There is a private university [in Jordan] that denies entry to women not
wearing a hijab. Students who do not [usually] wear one are required to don
a head covering while on campus if they want to complete their studies. In a
long conversation [I had] with a student who does not wear a hijab off
campus, she told me that she is forced to submit to the university's
requirement, otherwise she would not be able to complete her studies.

"Another example is the attempt of a Jordanian bank to impose a specific
dress [code on its employees, which includes] a hijab for the female clerks,
including those who are not Muslim! This is a practice that negates [the
existence of] the other, and has very serious repercussions and
implications.

"The question to be asked is how we, as Muslims, can criticize the West for
banning the hijab in schools, universities and sometimes also in
workplaces… while we do the exact same thing, only in the opposite
direction. There is no difference between the two cases: in the first case,
the woman is required to forgo the hijab by force of a decision, and in the
second, she is compelled to wear it by force of a decision! I do not know
how we can accuse the world of violating the freedom of Muslims and
attacking their privacy while we allow ourselves to behave in precisely the
same manner!

"I could understand the university administration taking such a decision if
it were part of a religious educational facility such as Al-Azhar. But we
are talking of a private university that charges thousands of dinars for
awarding academic degrees... Had the university been located in a house of
worship, this decision would have been logical, [but it is not]. This
behavior has only one meaning: [it implies] a narrow view of the goals of
Islam and of women. What is the point of students wearing a head covering if
they remove the minute they leave campus? What is the point of imposing a
head covering upon them if it is not part of their personal [behavior] and
beliefs?!

"Another point has to do with students who are not Muslim [but] who want to
know more about our religion. Do we have the right to impose our beliefs
upon them just because they decided to study at a specific university?

"This article should not be taken to imply that I oppose the hijab. I
[simply] believe that this issue is a matter of [personal] liberties and
beliefs, not coercion, irrespective of whether we are talking of wearing the
hijab or removing it…

With the spread of the radical ideology that thinks nothing of murdering
women, or even worse, selling them on the slave markets, we must to act
sensibly and reasonably in handling women's issues, so that we do not
resemble the radicals, even unwittingly.

"Frankly, had I been in place of these women who are put to the test, I
would not have agreed [to wear the hijab]. For liberties cannot be granted
[only] partly and are not a matter for bargaining – not even for the sake of
obtaining an academic degree or a job."

Endnotes:
[1] Al-Ghad (Jordan), July 11, 2015.
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