Hijab ordinance

The ordinance is seen to preserve the self-worth of every Dabawenya

There are three commonly used headscarves for women: (1) the Hijab to cover the head and neck exposing the face; (2) the Niqab to cover the head, face and neck down to the body, leaving the eyes uncovered; and (3) the Burqa to cover the head including the face down to the body with only mesh or screen on the face to see and for breathing.

Being veiled does not necessarily mean a muslim woman. Even the Christian Orthodox and the Catholics has to cover their head inside the church as taught by Apostle Paul to manifest simplicity, modest and being a God-fearing woman.

This practice has been passed down through the ages especially to truthful Islam believers who recently suffered discrimination.

In an attempt to end the discrimination against Muslim women, Nazma Khan of New York started in 2013 the annual Hijab Day that takes place every February of the year. The celebration is being observed by more than 140 countries worldwide to encouraged women to experience wearing one regardless of her religion and background.

Here in the Davao, city councilor Bai Halila Sudagar authored a resolution that was approved to become a Hijab Ordinance of Davao City. The purpose is to promote and protect the right, wellbeing and religious belief of Muslim women to wear hijab, niqab or burqa in school campuses, workplaces, commercial establishments and other private or public premises.

This ordinance is very commendable, and that my pen demands an expansion not as “a free pass for abuse” but to preserve the self-worth of every woman, to trim down the discrimination, biases and negative-stereotypes to the veiled women not only for Muslims but to every Dabawenya who wishes to have freedom to wear headscarves.