MULTAN: Speakers at a Hijab Day Walk on Sunday urged women to cover themselves.
They also vowed to observe September 4 as International Hijab Day.
More than 200 women members of Jamaat-i-Islami Multan Division attended the demonstration at Nawan Shehr square that continued for two hours.
They carried placards with slogans calling Western countries conspirators against Islam and urging women to cover up.
Ayesha Bibi, a participant, said by marking the day women could counter Western countries’ propaganda against hijab.
She said she felt a sense of security in the public by wearing a hijab.
“Hijab raises my honour,” she said.
Hafsa Bibi, another demonstrator, criticised media in Pakistan for “promoting vulgarity and discouraging women from covering up”.
The demonstration was led by Nazima Lalarukh, the JI Multan Division women wing chief.
She said the JI would continue exposing the propaganda of western countries and criticised the media for ‘toeing the west’s line’.
She said the Jamaat-i-Islami would hold seminars at women’s colleges and universities to raise awareness about hijab.
She said her party might also launch a movement to demand constitutional amendment to make hijab compulsory.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Sajid: Interpretations differ on MANY parts of the Quran, even on topics such as hijab. And it is MY personal choice how I practice religion and it's not up to you or anyone to pass along commands telling people to practice it in it's entirety or not at all. NO ONE has that right. Worry about yourself, I'll worry about me. Cheers.
@Sajid: Muslim which literally means “submission to Will of Almighty Allah alone”.
Every one has to submit to God's will. There is no choice there. God makes you submit. When your time is over, it is over. You can't say I am Muslim, so please give me an extension. God does not tell women to wear a Saree or Jeans or burqa or Salwar Kameez. God does not tell men to beat their wives. God does not need people to pray for him. People pray to feel peaceful in their own mind.
God is Almighty. He does not need humans to help him or make laws to protect him. He does not need talibans who read lot of Quran to force people to follow his laws. God does not need religious police or blasphemy laws.
That is one more step towards making Pakistan a truly islamic country. I hope governments make burqa compulsory and talibans can be employed to beat women who even show little bit of skin like feet or ankles.
Talibans should also beat Pakistani men who don't keep beard.
Men who look at porn at midnight should be traced by government and given 50 lashes and warning.
Being Muslim, we do not have option after a clear verdict on a topic like Hijab? Can we expect an American to differ US constitution? Either accept the religion in totality or adopt some other! or be liberal and moderate and don't claim to be Muslim which literally means "submission to Will of Almighty Allah alone".
Constitutional amendment proposal will be a good one. Politicians will try to please the JI crowd and the real test of PAK will be evident what the masses (men and women) say and do.
The litmus test of that will be seen in the comments.
So sick of the word HONOR. Enough already. And hijab alone doesn't add to your honor, nor does NOT wearing hijab detract from it.