MULTAN: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) demanded on Sunday that hijab should be made compulsory in the Constitution of Pakistan to make it an obligatory element of life for all women.
More than 200 women of Multan had gathered at Nawaz Shehar Square to protest against "media campaigns targeting hijab" and announced that the JI will celebrate “International Hijab Day” every year on September 4. The protest was led by the head of JI Multan women wing, Nazima Lala Rukh.
The protesters declared media as the biggest tool used by the west against Islam and said, “Hijab is the identity of women and the media is unaware of the holiness of hijab which is helping the western hands.”
The protesting women were wearing veils and were covered from head to toe beyond recognition. They declared that this was the right way of doing hijab which is compulsory for all Muslim women in the world.
The women were also carrying placards and banners against the western community, blaming the media for being their agent and supporters.
The protest continued for two hours.
The JI has planned to organise special seminars in women institutions all across Pakistan to teach women about the importance and compulsion of hijab to commemorate Hijab Day.
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There should not be compulsion on anyone for taking hijab, but for all those who think that taking hijab is a personal choice.. For that, I would say, surely it is BUT above that it is ALLAH's choice for Muslim women and that is made obligatory on them according to Qur'aan. Moreover, there is no harm in making hijab compulsory as it would be so good to see those modern Muslim women taking hijab and covering themselves properly who have taken off their dupattas completely.
In Islam ALLAH ALMIGHTY doesnot demand muslim women to cover her face,hand or feet .... infact there are five direct verses in Holy Quran, which explain how a muslim woman should cover herself while going out of home. where as our young generation even is under much under the influence of tv (media) that they even have forgotten to wear "Dupatta" which is the part of our national dress. so atles a muslim women should dressup in such a way that people respect her instead lookin at her. and covering yourself enhances respect and dignity of a women.
Please JI make Hijab compulsory, saves the satanic west a lot of immigration problems.
The way i see it, the more (outwardly) religious we are becoming, the worse, and more unprincipled, and holier than thou as people we are becoming. We should stop using religion as a stick to beat others over the head with and work more on improving the basics for ourselves.
Pakistan is slowly turning into a Police State with strong religious undertones which is the antithesis of the creation of this country's creation. There is no compulsion in Islam. JI should keep their beard, burqa brigade confined to Mansoora. The source of Islamic laws is the holy Quran. Purdah, Burka Hijab is a traditional or cultural thing. Why it should be implemented by force and why it should be incorporated in the Constitution.??
There is no compulsion in religion... yes, this means for non-Muslims.!!! But practicing AND wearing hijab is compulsory for Muslim women.
@ayesha azeem:
Would you say that about Islam? Allah has obligated the hijab in the Qur'an. Either you believe in the Qur'an or you disbelieve - which is it?
@Pakistani Pathan:
Hi Everyone, I'm also a Pakhtoon and I apologize for this idiot Mr. Pakistan Pathan. He does not represent us Pakhtoons. Clearly he's had too much naswaar
i pray that jamate islami start such thing in punjab as well, as punjabi establishment supported them and used them in the past and because of them pakhtoons are suffering in afghanistan and FATA. i wud pray dt punjab suffer the same as pakhtoons and afghans in afghanistan and pakistan .. pakistan shud me made secular state or else Jamate islami is right same rule shud be imposed in punjab too as it is for pakhtoons ..
If you want to contact JI and give your complaints or opinions/ideas, . Please visit
http://jamaat.org/beta/site/form/contactus
You will feel at ease communicating your frustration to them, rather that commenting on this page.
JI has no future in mainstream politics in Pakistan. They are clearly out of touch with the public's needs and ever-changing scenario in Pakistani politics. People need electricity, employment, food, water, JUSTICE, not a strict dress code. JI can only be a pressure group and nothing else. No wonder nobody wants to side with the JI, not even Imran Khan.
I think make the the Pakistani government / judiciary and other public sectors and government deals government more accountable is more compulsory than listing to such political parties using public sentiments eyeing close elections this is all a gimmick to fool simple minded people who will fall prey to such circus tricks while diverting attention from obvious issues like accountability of the state to its people
@Waheeda Islam: If you are so convinced that your spiritual ancestors are more important, why don't you try going and living among them. Hijab or no hijab, they will treat you with nothing but contempt. And by the way, the prophets wives were not covered from head to toe - there is a difference between modesty and madness. We are not interested in creating a so-called land of pure Islam in the image of Saudi Arabia and dictated by the neantherdal mullahs of the Jamaat e Islami. Pretty rich for the party that opposed the creation of Pakistan tooth and nail and whose leader called Jinnah a kafir to now claim that they want a land of pure Islam - what a pathetic bunch of hypocrites.
I wish that JI would show the same religious zeal in tackling corruption in this country in this land of the pure or "pure land" as one poster has put it. It shows that JI are totally bereft of any ideas about the real issues facing this country that they resort to religious demagoguery and blackmail.
The subjects like hijab - Islamic cuture, society - modern era; the realities and mis-conceptions:. These are very sensitive topics that casual bloggers, I must say, are not capable of discussing. Someone in a frenzy of modernism, knowingly or sometimes by ignorance, cross the boundaies of our religion - and do not remember that Islam and Quran & Sunnah are the very foundation and fiber of Pakistan. They are not doing any good to the consensus for being a solid nation. Others are partially literate and trained mullahs, who do not know the present and future needs to qualify as respectable members of international community. This later group preaches and forces centuries old practices to be followed by ummah.
Leave aside the hijab. There are other areas: nasty print and electronic media, vulgar commercials, naked dialogues in stage dramas, and ever growing tendency for appreciation of illicit relations between so-called movie/TV celeberities, and shameless propagation, etc. A common Pakistani, in its heart of hearts, do not approve them.
Now the question is: what should be the culture of Pakistan under the guidance of our religion???? Our knowledgeable scholars should sit together and device a framework and guideline through a consensus. meanwhile, my friends like the ones who have provoked mockery of the JI news items, should please desist from making derogatory remarks.
We were more tolerant in 1960s and 1970s.Today on the name of islam, we commit many mistakes and became intolerant. if we want to become a developed nation then we have to work honestly and through work, we shall be able to become a civilized nation. These ladies did not learn any lesson from the brutalities of the talebans, We are muslims without moral values.What is important for us,find these values first and then hijab
@Isabella: Honey, Islam has roughly 1.5 billion to 2 billion followers worldwide, and recently surpassed Catholicism in numbers. How is that a minority religion? And while I respect your right to having your own opinion, your poorly veiled disdain, completely evident intolerance, unfortunately displayed ignorance and heavily expressed xenopobia has now made me take your opinion as nothing more than the twitter of a misinformed mind. Gain some knowledge, correct your heavy generalizations and perhaps people will take you seriously. Cheers.
@Waheeda Islam: No. Just, no.
@Peace: That is so mean of you. How about liberty for the whole country, not just Sindh or Baluchistan.
@kaalchakra:
Since you consider the hijab 'a beauty and a joy',please start wearing it.
how would that help in development of pakistan?
Bang them all. the banner says "hijab is pride not compulsory" but they want hijab compulsory in pakistan constitution. Bang all female JU
@Waheeda Islam Finally someone who understands Islam. When I read the comments of other people on this thread, I wonder if they would stay Muslim once they do the research and find out that what you said about hijab's requirement in Islam (and its reasoning) is TRUE.
Appearances are deceitful. A woman wrapped under her thick burqa is in fact totally free to wear sexy lingerie/clothes, paint her face, nails colourfully........and stroll in the public!
13 Pakistani Soldiers have beheaded by taliban and JI is worried about the hijab. JI should be banned in Pakistan because of their indirect support to terrorists.
If this comes into law then i am not taking my family to Pakistan ,, sorry but i just dont buy it. Just want to say to all my Pakistani Bro and sisters , Its not the Americans who destroyed Pakistan its the such people of Pakistan destroyed Pakistan.
@Fariha Wajahat: and that something else is? Weird you have such a problem with what it says but won't correct it to inform us all to see the light alongside you.
ET is misreporting. I don't find a single quote in the article which suggest what's been written in the title of this news. ET you are so biased against conservative side.
Hijab has nothing to do with Islam yes it is a fashion from Arabia just like jeans is fashion from America.
@pakistani: "So, these women go on complaining about how women in the western world are restricted to wear hijab due to a law"
Please name a single country where hijaab is restricted by law. If you are thinking of France, they have restricted niqaab not hijaab. All restrictions on minority in terms of where and how they can worship, what they can wear etc. are found in peaceful Islamic countries. The kafir Western countries, Israel and India do not have such restrictions.
@Butool: " If you read the article in ET all it talks about is about how the women were protesting for THEIR right to do hijab "
And why do they have to protest about THEIR right to wear hijaab? WHo exactly is stopping them?
IT is unclear why these ladies are marching. Surely no-one in Pakistan is suggesting that their right to wear hijaab should be taken away?
And if the party is asking for hijaab to be made compulsory, then the banner is pretty misleading i.e. at least for some women, hijaab WOULD be a compulsion not a matter of pride.
We as a Nation has created all of the problems by our own-We are Just Confused with What we have. We have indulge in these petty issues, and not giving much importance to other matters that are much more serious than this Hijab! if 200 came out as protesters 1000s will come out with the taking away of the Constitutional Liberty and Freedom of everything, the Basics are being followed rest Religion is something very personal and no one should be allowed to play with their fundamental rights. And these fanatics should first learn how to advertise something-their very statement in the play card is the Negation of what they vociferously desire :s
I myself wear hijab, but strongly oppose this nonsense of Jamaat-e-Islami. Practicing religion is a personal matter, you cannot impose it on others. Just preach, that is your concern.
I don't understand. They are saying that their is no compulsion while they want hijab to be made compulsory.
@Waheeda Islam: You just read that out of a textbook, and there is no fact how much truth is to your information. If the mothers of faithful wore hijab how were they recognized later on? when Hazrat Usamn (RA) used to pay them alms. how did he know it wasa them when no one has seen their faces, so any woman could have worn a hijab one day and declared herself to be Hazrat Sawdah. Your stupidity overwhelms me
@Abbas: please show me the verse where the Holy Quran says that you can force religion on women? yet alone the verse in the Quran which dictates the covering of the women is very unclear, it only states that the women need to cover their bosoms directly, the other parts are very unclear. You cannot chose religion for anyone, please for the love of God educate yourself. stop being such dictators and control freaks
I was going to write a comment of my own to highlight exactly what is written below: "It is strange to see how people would react to a piece of misinformation, which defies all journalistic standards. I looked into the official communication of JI and their releases, I couldn’t find this piece of lie that JI is making hijab as part of the constitution. When JI were administering the then NWFP, and had all majority to pass any such legislation, they didn’t do that. As far as I know from their literature, they stress on change by change of minds, not by force. The venom in the name of article portrays that all women were covered head to toe. Unfortunately, his accompanying photographer didn’t read this garbage otherwise he wouldn’t put the picture where a good number of women leading procession had their faces exposed. But surely the days of lies and servitude are numbered, and truth would prevail." Russel Marlov.
I would say that it is NOT strange to see people react, this was the exact purpose of the article.
(Considering this is true) This Nazima actually contradict the ideology of JI's founder Syed Modoudi: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=516764651683650&set=a.393931570633626.111305.393924033967713&type=1&theater
@amaan: good work; these people sure need such ideas ;)
Saw the pic and remembered the old pac-man game. Is it trollish?
There is nothing wrong in making hijab mandatory. Ours is a islamic country for Muslims & majority of us are Shia. Saudi, the place of salvation for the entire Islamic world has made hijab mandatory & so the crime rate is one of the lowest in the world even when compared to US. How is it possible? Shariah. IK saheb is aligning with JI will make Pakistan a true Islamic state. He already mentioned it & let's all wait for the change.
For the JI, religion begins and ends with women's attire. From what I have read there is no compulsion in Islam and this move appears more like a mischief creating attempt than anything else.
This is the party Imran Khan supports. I am starting to become afraid of Imran..
First, see their faces, they did not wear full hijab. Thier faces are clearly seen by me.
Hijab is a must in Islam. The religious texts are clear about it. Our Prophet (pbuh) required all 13 of his wives to wear Hijab. Though Hazrat Ayesha was exempted as she was only 7 years old during marriage. Hijab is essential for a woman to show modesty in front of other men who are not their husbands. It also helps the husband treat all the women in his life equally, without getting swayed by the charms of one over the other publically.
While our ethnic ancestors followed the indian customs of letting women do and wear whatever they please (Kama sutra, anyone?), our spiritual ancestors who were Arab follow Hijab to this day. Let's not give up on creating the pure land of Islam!
What ever happend to ' There is no compulsion in religion ' ?
So what about the women who have to work in the fields? (What a dumb, self serving suggestion only the JI could come up with....)
get a life!! in hajj the most imp place in islam the hijab is of only head, nor face nor hands !! the height of nonsense, carrying a sign that it is a matter of pride and not compulsion yet demanding it to be compulsory within the country??
@ayesha azeem: they are not extremists but practising Muslims and they are demanding implementation of Pakistan's constitution which says no law can be made repugnant to Quran and Sunnah. you need to spare Pakistan from imported western culture and moral corruption more so than we already have in our society.
all the deviated wannabes up their posting ignorant and hypocritical comments about a very fair constitutional and Islamic demand learn about Islam before speaking about it when verses about Hijab were revealed Holy Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) made it compulsory by law and as for education you wannabes just talk JI women wing is biggest and most active in social work they provide employment and legal to underprivileged women and they have girls schools and colleges with various educational projects like Jamia Mohsinat,Ghazali education trust,Bhaitak school etc.when ever any one is peacefully promoting Islam or demanding application of Islamic Sharia the secular elite fringe accuses them of being extremists or brings other issues their hypocrisy has no limits with support west they want to rid of the Islamic values that we have got left in our society.
we should pay no attention to these fanatics. they are just trying to seek attention and have nothing better to do.
And the Freedom of Choice can go fly a kite . .
why people don't understand that religion is sometime really personal, you cannot force anybody is do this or that, and it is also forbidden in Islam, why judge people on the basis of their religion why not let everyone follow its faith, yes you can guide them if their on the wrong path but in the end it is their own decision. There are more than 50 other islamic countries and everyone is free to follow the religion of its own, one one has the right to call other infidel only God knows hidden!
Such outright impositions without first educating women about the benefits seem too extremist. Pakistani women ought to be invited to discover the beauty and joy of Hijab so they can spread it among their children and neighbors themselves. At a time when so many European and American women are turning to Hijab, for many Pakistani women to continue the ways of their unIslamic past seems ridiculous. Yet, they need to be brought into the fold gradually with love, sympathy, and education.
I do not protest against the hijab, and neither do i root for it. But it's funny how the banner says: "Hijab is my pride, not compulsion" whereas the women holding that banner demand it to be made compulsory.
Did they took to the roads to protest killings of Shias and other minorities?? Just curious.
So, these women go on complaining about how women in the western world are restricted to wear hijab due to a law and want to impose a similar law on women in the east. I don't understand who gave anyone the right to demand what a woman should do, if the westerners are wrong doing that then so are us, women are not commodities. I hope one day these people actually open the Holy Quran and find out how beautiful it is, and how peaceful it is rather than following an illiterate mullah.
It is strange to see how people would react to a piece of misinformation, which defies all journalistic standards. I looked into the official communication of JI and their releases, I couldn't find this piece of lie that JI is making hijab as part of the constitution. When JI were administering the then NWFP, and had all majority to pass any such legislation, they didn't do that. As far as I know from their literature, they stress on change by change of minds, not by force. The venom in the name of article portrays that all women we're covered head to toe. Unfortunately, his accompanying photographer didn't read this garbage otherwise he wouldn't put the picture where a good number of women leading procession were their faces exposed. But surely the days of lies and servitude are numbered, and truth would prevail.
Arab Imperialism showing its colors. I'm not against Hijab but these women should first clear what they want. Niqab is not Hijab neither that Burka is hijab. Hijab is covering of hairs only.
Has this been confirmed by other news agencies?? If you read the article in ET all it talks about is about how the women were protesting for THEIR right to do hijab not to compel others and certainly nothing about the constitution! ET, if this is really true then please provide more details.
Since the time Pakistan has been declared as an Islamic Republic, both its civilian and military rulers have been guilty of passing draconian laws which has divided the society into different parts and the fanatics lose no opportunity to interpret the religious laws to their own advantage. People of such ideology backed by religious laws have given rise to gross intolerance which has lead to violence and killing in the whole country.
Thanks JI for this innovative idea all the other real life problems faced by pakistanis will be solved instantly when they implement this law.
Ninjatastic!
With all the problems in Pakistan this is what the JI could come up with?
What women wish to wear or not wear is their choice - no one has the right to enforce their dress code on others - this is not an Islamic request rather a political manipulation tool.
JI should really grow up out of this 'lets control the population' mentality if they wish to embrace the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhoods electoral success or they will simply become increasingly a laughingstock of the world and a dangerous one at that.
I support that a Mulimah should cover herself. But making it a compulsions, I disagree. It's up to her to decide. Since here neck that turn, every eye that looks, she shares the same sin cause she made it a possibility. Now she has the choice. Either to obtain a mountain of sin or a mountain of 'aajar' on the Day of Judgment.
When they'll make it compulsory it l not remain pride but a compulsion.. When will they learn its about one to choose wearing Hijab or not.. What is more important then Hoijab is not to hurt any being but unfortunately JI is never going to work in that aspect.. HYPOCRITES!
Hijab, Niqab. Beards, Shalwars above ankles, etc
ET at it again. False reporting, the banner says something else.
Absolutely ridiculous, these type of extremists should be jailed! They're ruining the peace of out nation!
There was a time when the Passports of woman in Saudi Arabia did not have their photographs. At that time, the box that should have their photographs were stamped "VEILED" in bold, block letters.
Goodbye Karach and Lahore Fashion Week.
JI at it again. They won't leave us alone. Bill boards,co-education and hijab...that's their preoccupation. Brilliant!!!
Never will JI women come out against parents not sending their daughters to college because "larkiyan kharab hi jain gi". Never will they protest against forced marriages, acid attacks, child marriages etc. but the only problem they see is hijab and burqa. How many women from inside JI protested when Munnawar hassan said that raped women should not report rape because it destroys Islamic society's purity?
I remember Samia Raheel Qazi's interview when she said that women should not come out of their houses while she herself was a parlimantarian.
Why, why must this country become a backwater? We were so progressive in the 50s and 60s! Why don't these people just learn to live with someone who disagrees with their backward interpretation of Islam, or better yet impose compulsory education RESPECTING different ideas and beliefs!
LOL. Hopefully this will go where it belongs - Garbage
Wearing Hijab is ceratinly a good practice (i hope i won't get bashed for this) but there are better ways of promoting it... not in a procession like this...
Why dont men look the other way rather than making this or that complusory for women?
Their own names are their identity, their education is their identity and their personality is their identity. Not a piece of cloth worn for devotion to religion or their fathers, brothers, sons.
Pakistanis should stop treating women as minors!
I'm afraid sc may take suo-moto
also, ban dance, music, games, and all entertainments
I see the sold out media has done their dirty works here as well. Nowhere in the news below it is demanded to make it part of the constitution. The media is basically a rubble rouser, and put the slant, and then people start their tirades, which the proven sold out media wants.
What are you doing to this country you extremists? what are you doing for women,s rights?? Go and get an education and stop blaming other countries for bad media and the downfall of Pakistan, it is your ignorant selfs that are giving a bad name to this country, no one else! I bet none of these women in the image above and in the protest even wore hijab ten years ago! It is suddenly a sad trend in the past few years to show how religious you are. Religion is a private matter not to show how much better you are than the person who does'nt wear hijab.
Revolution is solution to all problems and imposing Hijab is not a good idea. Lets educate nation first for this world and life hereafter and prevalance of hijab will automatically come in society.
So you illiterate, fanatical mullahs want to impose what the Prophet (pbuh) never did in his lifetime...shame upon you blasphemers!!
Out of all the problems in Pakistan, they chose this.
well done.
So you carry a banner saying Hijab is my pride not compulsion and want a law that makes it compulsory for every women in the country? May be other women don't share same pride in wearing a Hijab. Why can't you let them live the way they want to?
Please arrange for some land in Saudi Arabia, and send these nut jobs there. I believe that religion is personal, and therefore hijab or for that matter any religious thing is a personal choice...
Pakistan wants to get into the modern world thereby avoiding the Jahilya that is the western world and the non-muslim world in general. I wonder how this will turn out. Good Luck.
In Pakistan maybe but not in Sindh and Balochistan. We prefer our liberal lifestyle here.
waw. as if all our problems have been sorted out and now we need to focus on such issues.
Spare Us,Spare Us You Extremists...Spare Pakistan..