'This Is Not A Headscarf' — Artist Asma Aiad Challenges Narrative Regarding The Headscarf In Austrian Society
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'This Is Not A Headscarf' — Artist Asma Aiad Challenges Narrative Regarding The
Headscarf In Austrian Society
•
Don’t Ruin Religious Peace In Oyo State, Muslim Women Warn Christian
Missionaries, TESCOM
•
'Very Excited And Happy': Padma Shri Recipient OinamBembem Devi On India Hosting
The AFC Women's Asian Cup
Compiled By New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/austrian-society-headscarf-narrative/d/125763
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'This
Is Not A Headscarf' — Artist Asma Aiad Challenges Narrative Regarding The
Headscarf In Austrian Society
With
her project 'This is not a headscarf,' artist Asma Aiad challenges the tired
narrative regarding the headscarf in Austrian society.
Austrian artist Asma Aiad says right now the issue
is not just about Muslim women wearing headscarves, but the broader idea of
Muslims being active in society. (Courtesy of: Asma Aiad)
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Asma
Aiad's artwork is informed by her Muslim identity. An Austrian artist and
activist who has devoted herself to the fight against Islamophobia and racism,
hijab-wearing Asma seeks to challenge those who conform to the stereotype of a
hijabi Muslim woman in Austria.
Instead
of explaining, she asks questions, like what is a headscarf and what is not?
Who defines it? How does a hijabi woman see the headscarf? And how do others in
Austrian society view it?
“I
took pictures of women wearing things on their heads which look like
headscarves but in reality, they are not headscarves,” she explains. “When you
see it, you think it’s not a headscarf, but when you forbid wearing a headscarf
in Austria maybe we can go around with things like these. Would it still be
forbidden? Or would it be okay?”
Explaining
to TRT World the rationale behind her latest exhibition - “This is not a
headscarf,” which is inspired by Belgian surrealist painter Rene Magritte’s
well-known “The Treachery of Images” - Aiad asked: “If it’s okay, why is this
okay and a headscarf is not okay?”
In
1929, Magritte painted an image of a pipe with the subtitle “This is not a
pipe,” which subverted conventions of language and visual representation and
cast doubt on the nature of appearances - both in the paintings and in reality
itself.
Aiad's
artistic work is currently being displayed at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
as part of the Muslim* Contemporary exhibition. She has curated the show with
the help of 11 other artists. The exhibition, she said: “Reflects Muslim life
in Austria, with its good sides like diversity but also with bad sides like
discrimination against Muslims and anti-Muslim politics.”
Muslim*Contemporary
includes workshops and lectures and features artwork and installations from
several other artists. It aims to “open spaces for discussion and debate
through different formats.” Aiad defines the exhibition as “a
multidisciplinary, participatory and dialogical project reflecting on the place
of participation of Muslim communities in Austrian society through education,
art, dialogue, activism and culture.”
Operation
Luxor
In
2019, the far-right government passed a law prohibiting primary school children
from wearing the Islamic headscarf. Later, in November 2020, the Constitutional
Court decided this violated religious-freedom rights and could lead to the
marginalisation of Muslim girls. It then annulled the headscarf ban on primary
schools, declaring it “unconstitutional”.
“People
think it is oppression - it is something bad, so on and so forth - but this is
what the people see in it, these are not the things that Muslim women attribute
to it. For them it is something important,” Aiad said.
With
her work, she highlights the objectification of Muslim women, who face daily
challenges simply for wearing the headscarf. They are often pre-judged and
misinterpreted as societal elements impose biases on their customs and dictate
how they should act. Aiad challenges this narrative on behalf of all Muslim
women.
But
Aiad says right now the issue is not just about Muslim women wearing
headscarves, but the broader idea of Muslims being active in society. It’s
particularly relevant in the aftermath of the raids that took place last year
amid the “political Islam” narrative constructed by the government.
November
9, 2021 marks one year since ‘Operation Luxor’ took place. During this event,
the Austrian government targeted the homes of 70 Muslims in the largest-ever
peacetime police raid operation in Austrian history. British-based human rights
group CAGE published a report in collaboration with ACT-P (Assisting Children
Traumatised by Police), revealing that the ‘Operation Luxor’ was unlawful and
ideologically driven. The report offers insight into the impact of Operation
Luxor by revealing “documents that include testimony from those targeted in the
operation and detailing the violations they experienced.”
During
interrogations, Muslims were asked questions such as whether they pray five
times a day. Asma says ever since that raid, ordinary Muslims live in fear of being
targeted by police because of their adherence to prayer, which is obligatory in
Islam. If today a police officer asks a Muslim whether they pray, and they
respond that they do, then they are framed as “radical Muslims.” For this
reason, many in the community have been left frightened by policing.
“A
year after the raids, individuals still find it difficult and deeply emotional
to speak about their experiences. They have seen the dark side of Austria, and
view it as reminiscent of a dictatorship,” says Nura Al-Izzedin, an Austrian
researcher at ACT-P who interviewed survivors of the raid and took witness
testimonies.
The
aforementioned raid took place exactly one week after the fatal shooting
attacks in Vienna on November 2nd, 2010. The aftermath involved police
statements, media prejudice and a number of false reports in the Austrian
mainstream media that gave the public the impression the subsequent house
searches were related to the attack.
Asma
says the constant Islamophobic messages in the media result in hate crimes
against Muslims, especially visibly Muslim women. Last September, BaraaBolat, a
hijabi digital creator, was verbally harassed and spat on after she got off a
city bus in Vienna. Bolat shared her experience on social media to raise awareness.
Operation
Luxor left many Muslims without financial means due to lost jobs, the freezing
of bank accounts, and the loss of trust in the community. Furthermore, many
families are traumatized, including minors and children.
The
events of Operation Luxor unfolded thusly: At around 5 a.m. on Nov.9, 2020,
officers used a coordinated action to forcibly gain access to offices,
residential buildings and family apartments. Men, women and children were
roused from their sleep by heavily armed officers and accused of being members
of a terrorist group.
One
of Aiad's other art installations at the exhibition depicts a raided apartment
shown from the perspective of those affected. Through this work, viewers can
personally glimpse how children and families experienced state authority.
Ten
months after the raids, the Operation Luxor home searches were declared
unlawful by the Graz Higher Regional Court. Moreover, none of the victims,
whose lives were turned upside down because of the operation have been charged
with any crime.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/this-is-not-a-headscarf-the-objectification-of-muslim-women-in-austria-51585
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Don’t Ruin Religious Peace In Oyo State, Muslim Women Warn Christian Missionaries, TESCOM
By
KazeemAwojoodu
Nov
13, 2021
IBADAN
– The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN Oyo State
chapter has warned Christian Missionaries and the entire Christian Community in
the State to avoid religious activities or programmes capable of ruining the
peace and peaceful coexistence being enjoyed in every nook and cranny of the
State.
The
Association made the appeal while reacting to the visit of some foreign
missionaries led by one Evangelist Daniel Kolenda to public secondary schools
in the State ahead of their planned Ibadan crusade.
The
team was in Yejide Girls Grammar School, Sasa Community High School, Gbekuba
Community School, St’ Anne’s School Molete, Methodists Grammar School, Bodija
among others.
A
statement by the Oyo State Amirah of FOMWAN, Alhaja (Dr) B.B Oloso described
the action as capable of igniting religious conflict in Oyo State, adding that
Oyo State Christian Community or Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN would
spit fire and brimstone and allege Islamisation agenda if Muslims were the ones
going to public schools with Islamic foreign preachers or clerics to invite
students to an open-air program.
“This
is an act of religious intolerance. Why would Principals in public Schools
allow Christian Foreign Evangelists in their Schools if they were not part of
plans to win souls for Christ as they usually say? It was a gross infringement
on the fundamental right to religion of the teeming Muslims in the Schools
visited.
“Oyo
FOMWAN condemns this action in totality and warns the Organizers and their
cohorts especially the School heads and principals to desist from attempting to
coerce and force Muslim children into Christianity. Don’t ruin the religious
harmony already existing in Oyo State,” Oyo FOMWAN Amirah warned.
https://independent.ng/dont-ruin-religious-peace-in-oyo-state-muslim-women-warn-christian-missionaries-tescom/
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'Very
excited and happy': Padma Shri recipient OinamBembem Devi on India hosting the
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Written
By: Srishti Singh Sisodia WION Web Team
Nov
12, 2021
Padma
Shri recipient OinamBembem Devi said she is very excited as India will be
hosting the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022. She also gave her valuable opinion on
what needs to be done to promote the sport in India at the grassroots level
OinamBembem
Devi, the first Indian woman footballer to have received the prestigious Padma
Shri Award, said that she is excited for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 being
hosted in India, as players will get a golden opportunity to play in front of
the home crowd, a proud moment for their families as well.
AFC
Women's Asian Cup 2022 is scheduled to commence on January 20 next year and the
qualified teams include reigning champions Japan, Australia, China PR, hosts
India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam.
During
a virtual interaction, Bembem Devi replied to WION's question over her
excitement about the tournament being held in India. She said, "I am very
excited as I have played for 21 years, but didn't get a chance to play AFC in
India. All the players in the women's team are so excited as their families and
relatives can watch their daughters play."
"Playing
in our own country and in our own ground give a massive boost. When we go to
other countries, we don't get many supporters. Playing in India means, the
family can watch, the relative can watch and supporters will be a motivational
factor."
Bembem
Devi, who has been a flagbearer of promoting football in India over the years,
also said that she is also very excited because hosting the tournament will be
a great opportunity to promote women's football across India, adding that she
is "very happy".
The
41-year-old Bembem Devi became the seventh overall to receive the Padma Shri
Award, joining the elite club of Late Gostho Paul, Late Sailen Manna, Chuni
Goswami, PK Banerjee, BhaichungBhutia and current Indian Men's National Team
captain Sunil Chhetri as Indian footballers who won the prestigious award.
Padma
Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award given by the Government of India,
after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan.
Bembem
Devi has been a role model for Indian football, who is doing her bit in
promoting the sport throughout the country. Winning Padma Shri will boost her
efforts to take Indian Women's football to greater heights as she will get
recognition and more girls draw inspiration from her.
While
replying to WION's question, Bembem Devi gave her valuable opinion on what
needs to be done to bring about considerable changes in terms of promoting the
sport to the grassroots level and encouraging women participation.
She
said, "In India, the Grassroots Football Development programme is already
underway." Giving an example Manipur, from where she hails, the veteran
footballer said, "In my state, a six-month-long Grassroots Football
Development was scheduled. Young boys and girls participated."
In
India, Grassroots Football aim is to increase participation for children,
youth, amateurs, veterans in the sport. The programme is also meant for those
with physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, visually impaired and even the
socially disadvantaged.
The
AIFF Grassroots programme also looks after improving the quality and quantity
of football and popularising it through grassroots. AIFF's Grassroots
Development programme was kicked-off in December 2012 and ever since it has
seen a rapid expansion.
https://www.wionews.com/sports/very-excited-and-happy-padma-shri-recipient-oinam-bembem-devi-on-india-hosting-the-afc-womens-asian-cup-428891
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/austrian-society-headscarf-narrative/d/125763