A 'Hijab Outcry' campaign broke out in Sweden as several women posted online photos of themselves wearing headscarves after a pregnant Muslim woman was allegedly attacked near Stockholm for wearing a headscarf on Saturday.
According to BBC, the protesters include women hailing from various faiths and included prominent politicians and TV show hosts.
On Saturday, a Muslim woman was assaulted in a Stockholm suburb where an attacker tore off her 'hijab' and hit her head against a car while hurling racist insults at her all the time.
The police are investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, a number of women are posting pictures of themselves wearing hijab on Twitter, Instagram and other social media websites under the hashtag #hijabuppropet.
The campaigners demand the government to "ensure that Swedish Muslim women are guaranteed the right to... religious freedom".
The minister is expected to meet the campaigners on Tuesday.
Hoodie or hijab no one should be discriminated against or harassed because of what they wear #hijabuppropet pic.twitter.com/G4P4UU9XZj
— Lauren (@lboogieDC) August 20, 2013
Mon-Muslims with Hijab in solidarity with Muslims. Cool! --> @SibilleAttar: Me@ArtMakesAStand support #hijabuppropet http://t.co/5wvcHz3gsO
— AgbaAkin Moruff ADENEKAN (@AdenekanMoruff) August 20, 2013
It's simple, only I decide what to wear! I own MY body! #hijabuppropet pic.twitter.com/RVzYbPjM8E
— Mile ✨ (@MsMoneypenny11) August 19, 2013
It's not about religion, it's about showin support 2 our sisters worldwide wearing hijab #sisterhood #hijabuppropet pic.twitter.com/VwZgrP6Rnd
— A LUNA M (@AidaLunaUna) August 19, 2013
COMMENTS (31)
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@Max: Spot on dude!! tusi cha gae ho!!
@Max: Indeed the rationalist Dabholkar has been shot dead by some yet to be identified loony but we are not waiting with flower petals for the killer.
And please, leave pakistani minority or similar stuff out of it. Let this article be as it is. @ Ali, Gp etc etc. Unfortunately you are either non muslim, or muslims who do not know Islam - Which is quiet normal these days. Arguments without knowledge! Wearing a Hijab and wearing a Cross is totally irrelevant. Supporting people who claim to be muslims but are not part of Islam is totally irrelevant examples here. Any modification in Islam is not allowed and must be stopped! But Islam never says anything about mistreating non-muslims, unfortunely sick people do that, and thats everywhere. You think your civilized USA is ethical? want me to give trillions of examples to prove?
@gp65, @np: Unfortunately both of you failed to see the bigger picture. Yes, liberalism does support nudity. Think. When you do not stop some one from doing something wrong, others start to accept it as a norm. When a women is nude (as she chooses to be), then others will attract to it!! Apply it on thousands of daily examples, crimes and you might understand then!! This is why there are groups i.e. liberals, fundamentals etc. You cannot leave decisions which affect humanity on individuals. There must be laws to stop something from spreading! Get it?
@Nadeem: Pakistanis are not minorities of India nor is Kashmir a majority- minority conflict. Jaswant Singh and Arundhati Roy are still alive & work freely (I am yet to see Miss roy with guards), unlike Salman Taseer and Shahbaz bhatti. Stereotypes are not built out of thin air.
Oh my God! I wish once people would stop taking any good action from the west or non-Muslims for that matter as a part of a greater conspiracy! These women are saying that women are free to wear what they want WITHOUT BEING OPPRESSED INCLUDING A HIJAB!!! For any person who thinks there is a hidden agenda of these women and somehow using some unseen super powers, they are actually discouraging hijab by supporting it....please grow up!!
@Gp65:
I fully agree with your analysis. However, it is not the hijab in itself that creates the controversy but what it stands for. Yes people in the west should be (more or less) free to decide what to wear, there are limits though, you cannot only wear a string for example. The real issue is not a piece of cloth, but philosophy many of them are ventilating including the demand for sharia, for special courts for special treatment, special schools similar to madrassas in Pakistan. We do not want a stone-age- mentality and -actions stealthily creeping into our society under the banner of freedom, while they consider us kafirs who deserve death. This is what many Swedes do not know (yet).
These women are very clever. While they appear to be supporting women who chose to wear hijab as a personal choice, they are tacitly painting Islam as a backward and oppressive ideology.
@Warsi: Why do we have to SCREAM LIBERALS NUDITY et cetera whenever we talk of Hijab? Liberals stand for equal rights, not for nudity or whatever you imagine. I am very much a liberal but certainly not an advocate of promoting nudity (or forcing pardah on anyone just to make that clear). I define my liberalism by my wanting to stand up for equal rights, not by judging people on their outward appearance or forcing them to change. Hope this gives some perspective.
Just to make it clear, these Swedish women are standing for equal women's right, NOT for hijab exclusively. You guys don't even understand the broader picture, yet shout liberals this that, nudity et cetera. This is called... extremism my friend.
@Warsi: So all those people who go to watch punjabi stage dramas full of Mujras are liberals? Hmm.By the way three of your cricketers are just caught watching those Mujras. They are very liberal I would say.
I whole heartedly support them. Everyone has the right to wear whatever they fancy. Riligiously motivated or culturaly!
@Raj - USA
As usual, your narrow mind & prejudiced thinking could not help spoil the effect of this heart warming news item !!!
Muslims or non-Muslims , would you comment on state of women in India? I heard India is a model for rest of the world as far as treatment of women is concerned. There is no rape epidemic. Women are not harassed in public transport. Record number of female fetuses are not terminated. Please tell us about that. May be Pakistanis have a lot to learn from you as far as treatment of women is concerned.
@Warsi: "Oh my GOD our liberal losers will go against anyone who supports Hijab. They want to promote nudity."
Warsi sahib - unfortunately the significance of the Swedish women's actions is lost on you. Can you defend religious minorities in YOUR country Pakistan? Will you raise your voice for the hindus, sikhs, ahmadis, shias?
Morality is not about hijab/ burqa. Our grandmothers never wore one and a dupatta/ chador was enough. EVERYBODY knew their boundaries and people were respectful. We now have people proclaiming that burqa/ hijab is for good women while the rest who dont wear it are trash. That defines the newly imported "morality" of ours.
Clearly, morality stems from doing good actions. Education, setting good examples & parents keeping an eye on their kids is what is missing from the upbringing of kids today. When parents are involved in corrupt practices and are also missing form their children's lives in the quest to earn a few more lakhs here and there under the table, the result is for you to see.
@Genius: They aren't doing it for any rewards in the afterlife but to support those who are defenseless in this one. It is difficult to comprehend for those whose moral code is driven by the idea of rewards after death. @Raj-USA: Thank you - exactly what I wanted to say.
@Np: I would classify them as the patient, law abiding Pakistanis.
@Warsi: Liberals promote nudity? Are you nuts? Liberals promote the right of woman to choose how she dresses and promote the right of everyone to worship /or not as they choose.
These women to are not supporting hijab. They are supporting the right of Muslim women to wear hijab and not be discriminated for doing so.
@Naveen: Attack? They will probably accuse the person wearing a cross of apostasy and have them killed legally.
@Jahil / Zaman Iqbal
Get some education please !!!!!!
I admire these Swedish women. No matter what our mullas aur fanatics say they are the most civilized people on the planet. And mind you all relegions are there to make people more civilized. All of the people who commented above and closed minded people and shouldnt be classified as civilized at all.
I wish the Muslim majority of Pakistan would do the same thing for our religious minorities.
Thank you all. How wonderful? How wonderful to see these women support victim's human right. Yes this is exactly what people gifted with good sense by Lord Creator, Lord Almighty will do. Thank you all for showing your gift of good sense in your deeds. I am absolutely sure that the merciful and compassionate Lord will be pleased with your such compassionate acts. Keep it up. Keep on showing good sense. This is what people throughout the world need to do.
These women and Islam have nothing in common. They are supporting western rights of women.
These women are protesting against islamic values. They are dooing it to defame Islam. They want to decide and be owners of thir own body.
Oh my GOD our liberal losers will go against anyone who supports Hijab. They want to promote nudity.