Request to observe Hijab Day on Women’s Day draws ire

Since its inception in 2018, the Aurat March has evolved into an inclusive platform for sexual minority groups and the marginalised at large. Coinciding with the annual Women’s Day on March 8, the movement faces resistance from people refusing to come to terms with it.

As elucidated in an explainer earlier, slogans like “mera jism, meri marzi” still touch a nerve. Despite the fact that proponents have clarified time and again that they only highlight a woman’s right to her own body. Whereas a section still believes that Aurat March is an “agenda” to impose “western debauchery” in Pakistan and thus, the country’s religious clergy deems it un-Islamic.

Now, Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri has requested the Prime Minister Imran Khan to celebrate Hijab Day on March 8 instead of Aurat March. While many agree that the hijab should be celebrated, the request to mark Hijab Day on an occasion reserved for Aurat March is not sitting well with users.

“We all accept that Islam offers a complete code of life and there is no alternative to it. Any group, under the banner of Aurat March or any other title, on the occasion of upcoming International Women's Day on March 8, should not be allowed to ridicule Islamic values, societal norms, hijab or modesty as such acts hurt the sentiments of Muslims in the country," the minister wrote in his request shared by Senator Sherry Rehman on Twitter.

She tweeted in response, "How is the right to wear a hijab under threat in Pakistan? Quite the opposite. He can celebrate hijab any day; one doesn’t exclude the other." Many have since opposed the request on the micro-blogging, asking why Hijab Day needs to be observed on International Women’s Day, of all days, and why it should be replaced with Aurat March when women are not denied their right to wear hijab in the country.

A user pointed out, “So hypocritical to encourage Muskaan bibi speaking for her rights across the border while silencing our women and stopping them from arranging a march where they can protest for the rights denied to them by the state and society.”

Another asked, “Why does everyone think women in Aurat March are against hijab or hijabis? Because I am one of them and I or anyone I know from the whole protest has never spoken against it.” A user also clarified that "there's no 'one way' of empowering women. Religious extremists leave no chance to show how scared they are of our strong women. We need to celebrate Hijab day and Aurat March both. Both are our pride.”

Provided the International Women’s day aims to celebrate “the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women,” many feel that while the minister's request to celebrate hijab is not wrong, the affair should not be used to deprive women of the one day they can use to rally for their rights.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.