When Supreme Court Praised Col Sofiya Qureshi While Granting Permanent Commission to Women Officers in Indian Army
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 May 2025
· When Supreme Court Praised Col Sofiya Qureshi While Granting Permanent Commission to Women Officers in Indian Army
· French Interior Minister Proposes Hijab Ban in Universities
· CAIR Condemns Ban on Hijab by Province in Belgium
· BRAC Report On Women Migrant Workers: Abused, 67,199 Women Returned In 6 Years
· CAIR-NY Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Harassment of 2 Muslim Women in Midtown Manhattan
· Watch UAE Women Rev Up the Streets to Celebrate International Female Ride Day
· NEOM Championing Grassroots to Build Lasting Legacy OfSaudi Women’s Football
· Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Deepens Investment in Women’s Professional Golf
· US TV’s First Lead Cartoon Hijabi: How I Animated Muslim Women To Look Real
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/supreme-court-indian-army-women-officers/d/135471
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When Supreme Court Praised Col Sofiya Qureshi While Granting Permanent Commission to Women Officers in Indian Army
08 May 2025
Col. Sofiya Qureshi addresses the media regarding ‘Operation Sindoor' missile strike, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.Photo ANI
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NEW DELHI: While ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army, the Supreme Court in 2020 had acknowledged the achievements of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the two women officers who briefed the media on 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday.
In its February 17, 2020, judgement, the top court said that absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification cannot be sustained in law.
The apex court, which allowed Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Army, said an absolute prohibition of women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently did not fulfil the purpose of granting PC as a means of career advancement in the Army.
The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named 'Exercise Force 18', which is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India. She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006, where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in the conflict affected areas," the apex court had said.
Taking note of the Centre's affidavit in the matter, the court had said that the counter affidavit contained a detailed elaboration of the service rendered by women SSC officers to the cause of the nation, working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.
"Yet, that role is sought to be diluted by the repeated pleas made before this court that women, by the nature of their biological composition and social milieu, have a less important role to play than their male counterparts. Such a line of submission is disturbing as it ignores the solemn constitutional values which every institution in the nation is bound to uphold and facilitate. Women officers of the Indian Army have brought laurels to the force," the apex court had said.
During the media briefing on Wednesday, Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flanked Foreign Secretary VikramMisri on the dais, who delivered the opening statement from the government.
The briefing came hours after the Indian armed forces, under 'Operation Sindoor', carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Born in Gujarat's Vadodara in 1974, Col Qureshi graduated with a Master's in biochemistry from the ManonmaniamSundaranar University in 1997.
An officer in the critical Corps of Signals, in the past, she had been picked for the role of a military observer in Congo in 2006, besides being part of flood relief operations in the Northeast region.
The officer broke the glass ceiling when in 2016, she became the first woman officer to lead its contingent at the multi-national field training exercise, Exercise Force 18, hosted by India for interoperability in sustaining peace among the ASEAN nations. Source: newindianexpress.com
Source:newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/08/when-sc-praised-col-sofiya-qureshi-while-granting-pc-to-women-officers-in-indian-army-2
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French Interior Minister Proposes Hijab Ban in Universities
May 7, 2025
A woman wearing a hijab, an islamic veil, walks in a street on April 15, 2010 in Nanterre, outside Paris. [Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images]
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French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced yesterday that he intends to impose a ban on wearing the hijab in universities.
Retailleau told RMC television that he wants to ban the hijab in universities, claiming “there is an Islamism that is incompatible with traditional Islamic beliefs.”
“I would like to see this happen because I recognise that there is a form of Islamism that does not reflect traditional Muslim faith. In my opinion, these are values that place women below men.”
The minister said Muslim citizens should not take his words personally, adding that “political Islam distorts the faith of Muslims.”
In March 2004, France imposed a ban on wearing the hijab in France in primary and middle schools, while universities were exempt.
In 2010, the niqab was completely banned in public places, with violations punishable by a fine of €1,500.
In August 2023, French Education Minister Gabriel Attal banned the abaya in schools, claiming it was “an Islamic garment that violates state rules and regulations.”
On 18 February, the Senate approved a bill aimed at banning the hijab in French sporting competitions.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250507-french-interior-minister-proposes-hijab-ban-in-universities/
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CAIR Condemns Ban on Hijab by Province in Belgium
May 7, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a ban on hijab, or Islamic head scarves, in educational institutions in the Belgian province of East Flanders.
The ban, which prohibits the wearing of items such as headscarves during educational activities, comes into effect September 1.
VlaamsBelang, a far-right Belgian political party that has been accused of having a racist, anti-immigrant platform, reportedly supported the ban. Filip Dewinter, one of the party’s leading members, once said women wearing the hijab have “effectively signed their contract for deportation.”
“Anti-immigrant and racist forces worldwide unfortunately target hijab as a means to promote their bigoted agendas,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “People of all backgrounds should be allowed to dress as they please based on the dictates of their conscience and the principles of their faith.”
Earlier this year, CAIR condemned a new effort by the government of Tajikistan to impose “guidelines” for the attire of Muslim women.
CAIR also called on French lawmakers to reject proposed legislation that would ban the wearing of religiously-mandated attire in sports.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-ban-on-hijab-by-province-in-belgium/
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BRAC Report On Women Migrant Workers: Abused, 67,199 Women Returned In 6 Years
May 8, 2025
More than 4.7 lakh Bangladeshi migrant workers have returned home over the past six years after facing various forms of abuse, exploitation, and hardship, according to a BRAC report.
Of them, 67,199 are women who faced sexual and physical abuse, according to the report "Together We All: Protecting Rights and Empowering Women Migrants" presented at an event yesterday.
The report says 49,924 women were sent back in 2020 -- the highest number ever recorded.
Since 1991, over 1.2 million Bangladeshi women have migrated abroad in pursuit of better economic opportunities, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia has been the top destination for female migrant workers, followed by Jordan, the UAE, Lebanon, Qatar, Mauritius, Kuwait, the UK and Malaysia.
Several push factors compel Bangladeshi women to seek employment overseas, including social and economic vulnerability, poverty, unemployment, lack of quality education and skills and even environmental pressures.
However, life abroad often proves harsher than expected. The report paints a grim picture of exploitation, ranging from trafficking and forced labour to gender-based violence.
Many women arrive at their destinations only to discover that promised wages are withheld, working conditions are abusive, and language and cultural barriers make it difficult to seek help.
Most female migrants are unskilled or semi-skilled, leaving them even more susceptible to mistreatment. Isolation is further compounded by restrictions on mobility and communication with their families, the report said.
The ordeal does not end upon return. Many women come back with serious physical injuries, illnesses and deep psychological trauma. At the airport, they often lack food, medical attention or even someone to receive them, the report added.
Once back in their communities, they face mental health challenges such as trauma, depression and social isolation.
Financially, they are often burdened with debt, have limited access to financial services and lack ownership of their earnings or savings.
"Many returnees are socially stigmatised and face immense difficulty finding employment -- this makes reintegration into society a long and painful process," said Shariful Hasan, programme head of BRAC Migration, while presenting the findings of the report at an event yesterday.
Two female migrant workers -- Rojina and Selina -- who returned home after facing abuse shared their harrowing experiences at the event.
"I was forced to return from Jordan after falling ill. My illness was caused by mental stress due to overwork and a lack of nutritious food. Besides, I was not given the job I was promised," Rojina said.
Selina also faced exploitation and abuse.
Speaking at the event, ShaheenAnam, executive director of the ManusherJonno Foundation, questioned the rationale behind sending unskilled female workers abroad.
"Why do we send unskilled female workers who have no capacity to bargain? We need policies to ensure that no unskilled migrant workers are sent abroad."
She also called for a national strategy to provide psychosocial support, skill development and community reintegration for returnee female migrants.
Shaheen urged policymakers, civil society and international partners to collaborate in addressing the structural vulnerabilities faced by Bangladeshi women throughout the migration process.
Meanwhile, Mushfiqur Rahman, chairperson of SME Foundation, stressed the importance of training and workshops to improve the financial literacy of female migrant workers.
He also called for policy support to resolve the issues confronting them.
The crisis surrounding female migration is preventable if the country adopts gender-responsive migration policies, said SheepaHafiza, chairperson of Migration, Inclusion & Justice Activist.
Source: thedailystar.net
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/brac-report-migrant-workers-abused-67199-women-returned-6-years-3889486
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CAIR-NY Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Harassment of 2 Muslim Women in Midtown Manhattan
May 7, 2025
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the alleged harassment of two Muslim Women wearing Hijabs (Islamic head scarves) and Keffiyehs (Palestinian scarves) as a possible hate crime.
Earlier this week, two Muslim women wearing hijabs and keffiyehs were reportedly walking down Madison Avenue. Video shows a woman apparently intentionally pushing one of the Muslims as she walked past. The alleged victims then got into a verbal argument, with the aggressor allegedly heard saying “so stupid; why don’t we see your face.” (NOTE: One of the Muslim women was wearing a medical face mask.)
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director AfafNasher, Esq. said:
“This incident reflects a growing trend of visible hostility toward Muslim and Palestinian visible identities. No one should be harassed or physically targeted simply for how they look or what they wear. All New Yorkers — especially those from marginalized communities — must feel safe in public spaces. We call on the NYPD and federal authorities to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime.”
Earlier this year, Washington, D.C., based CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
CAIR-NY recently condemned NYU’s Law Retaliatory Ban on Students During Finals, Urges Immediate Reversal of the Sanctions.
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Do you like reading CAIR-NY’s press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR-NY’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR-NY’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR-NY.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-calls-for-hate-crime-probe-of-harassment-of-2-muslim-women-in-midtown-manhattan/
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Watch UAE women rev up the streets to celebrate International Female Ride Day
May 08, 2025
Dubai: Did you spot a bold brigade of women roaring down Dubai’s roads on Saturday? If you missed it, you can now catch the action online because the organisers of the UAE’s largest female-led motorcycle ride have released videos of the event.
Held on May 3 to mark the 19th International Female Ride Day (IFRD), more than 60 female bikers representing over 35 nationalities took part. The nearly 70km parade brought together empowerment, unity, diversity, and horsepower.
The route and motto
The ride began from Last Exit DXB Bound and thundered all the way to The Farm in Al Barari, a route planned by one of the three lead coordinators of the ride, HafidaDrici, a homemaker in Dubai.
The motto of the ride was to “ride in solidarity for accelerated gender parity.”
“The energy was incredible. Women riders from all walks of life came together to show what unity and sisterhood look like on two wheels,” said Sara Barakat, another coordinator who works in the hospitality sector.
Pan-Arab movement
This year, the UAE event took an inspiring turn. For the first time, the ride was synced with simultaneous celebrations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan. This became possible after the UAE coordinators took the initiative to coordinate with and support SisterhoodMC KSA, Bahrain Ladies Motorcycle, Hawks MC Egypt, and HOG Jordan.
In total, more than 140 women riders across the region joined the synchronised ride, culminating in a virtual meet-up that transcended borders.
Another coordinator, Katrina Corcoran, said connecting with riders from different countries in real-time was a special experience. “It was a dream come true moment,” said the schoolteacher.
The coordinators also went the extra mile by sponsoring T-shirts and goodie bags for the riders in all the participating countries.
Another rider, Anna Walker, a Dubai-based entrepreneur, also pitched in by sponsoring gloves and helmets for raffle winners and bookmarks themed after the event for every participant.
“I was thrilled to join the ride and support the lady riders with accessories from my company. It was also an honour to partner with Dubai Police and other local authorities for this special event,” said Walker.
Legacy of empowerment
The UAE ride was officially registered and supported by the Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO) and coordinated in collaboration with Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Civil Defence, International Female Ride UAE, the Women’s International Motorcycle Association, and other entities.
The UAE has been proudly supporting IFRD since it was initiated by biker Caroline (Coco) Stuck in 2019. The event has grown with each edition. Celebrated annually on the first Saturday of May, it is held as part of a global initiative founded by Vicki Gray, a celebrated Canadian rider, to empower and spotlight women in motorcycling and motorsports.
Open to women riders of all brands and styles, IFRD aims to break barriers, inspire newcomers, and amplify women’s visibility in the motorcycling world.
“The female bikers’ community in the UAE has been steadily growing. We try to be part of the community not just for the thrill of riding. We ride for a cause and organise community events. The beauty is that we are from different groups and ride different bikes, but united by the love of riding,” added Barakat.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/uae/watch-uae-women-rev-up-the-streets-to-celebrate-international-female-ride-day-1.500119764
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NEOM championing grassroots to build lasting legacy of Saudi women’s football
08 May ,2025
As Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its Vision 2030 ambitions, women’s football is emerging as a powerful symbol of social change, opportunity, and national pride.
Fueled by significant government investment and endorsement, stakeholders across the football ecosystem have driven positive performance, commercial and societal change.
At the heart of this transformation is NEOM, whose investment in grassroots sport is redefining what’s possible for young girls across the Kingdom.
“At NEOM, we see sport, in its broadest sense, as a core pillar in building a future-focused society, one that is inclusive, active and ambitious,” said Jan Paterson, Head of Sport at NEOM, in an interview with Al Arabiya English.
“Women’s football is a powerful demonstration of that vision.”
Moreover, in March 2025 NEOM S.C. Women’s Football Team secured promotion to the Saudi Women’s Premier League, the best of women’s football in the Kingdom – an achievement that underscores the rapid growth of the sport across Saudi Arabia.
Building from the ground up
NEOM has taken an active role in forging that pathway with the launch of its grassroots development program ‘The Shuhub Community Football Program.’
Launched in 2022, the program has already reached more than 10,000 children, aged 7 to 12, across four major cities in the Kingdom: Tabuk, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
“It’s more than training – it’s a core development platform, offering access to football in a structured, inclusive environment,” Paterson said.
“We are looking to ignite that passion for football from an early age, giving girls and boys the confidence and support to grow, and showing families that football can be a real and achievable pathway for all.”
Embedding sports into daily life
A core value of NEOM’s approach is ensuring that sport is embedded in daily life – not as a luxury, but as a norm.
“It’s about embedding sport and physical wellness into everyday life, and ensuring every girl has the chance to participate in football, from grassroots and upwards at all levels,” Paterson told Al Arabiya English.
The data has begun to reflect the momentum, she said.
According to NEOM’s report ‘Pioneering Change: Women’s Football in Saudi Arabia,’ girls’ participation in football has surged, with grassroots figures climbing to 77,000.
This is part of a broader trend – the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Girls’ (SAFF) School League has seen participation grow from 48,000 to over 70,000 – a 46 percent increase year on year.
Over the same two years, the number of regional training centers (RTCs) – dedicated facilities and programs for 6–17-year-olds outside of the school system – has increased from one to six.
This has enabled the number of players in attendance to skyrocket from 22 to 192 – a 773 percent increase from 2021 to 2023.
“The rise in women’s football participation reflects a shifting landscape across the region more broadly,” Paterson said.
“Increased visibility of women’s football through broadcast and social media coverage, strategic investment from [SAFF] in Regional Training Centers” have all helped pave the way.
There’s clearly a generation that’s eager to play, according to NEOM’s head of sport. And for many families it’s their first time supporting girls in football.
This is a reflection of the commitment from parents, teachers and communities.
Still, access remains one of the biggest challenges – especially in rural areas, according to her.
“What we have seen, though, is that when you create the right conditions, the demand is there,” she noted. “We are not just seeing the numbers grow, we are building belief and confidence in every child.”
Success stories from Shuhub highlight this transformation.
“One of the girls told us she had never even kicked a football before joining the program, now she trains twice a week and dreams of becoming a professional,” said Paterson.
In regions like Tabuk, where access was once limited, “watching young players working with FIFA-certified coaches and witnessing the progress… speaks volumes.”
Bringing Saudi talent to the international stage
NEOM’s ambitions extend beyond domestic efforts.
As presenting partner of all AFC women’s series – including the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League in 2024 – NEOM is working to bring Saudi talent onto the international stage, Paterson told Al Arabiya English.
“The AFC provides a global stage to showcase NEOM’s vision and connect with millions of passionate football supporters, young and old,” Paterson said.
This includes initiatives like the Referee Escort Kids program, which gave 28 children from Jeddah Pro and Jeddah United the chance to meet international players and witness elite-level football up close during the AFC Asian Champions League finals.
“Giving young people lifetime sporting memories drives longer term sport participation,” she explained.
NEOM’s own women’s football team has become a trailblazer itself, recently earning promotion to the Saudi Women’s Premier League after a dominant season.
The final stage
This elite success is designed to be the final stage of a well-developed pathway that begins at grassroots, according to her.
“Nurturing interest at the grassroots level both in and out of school environments helps to develop a sustainable pipeline of talented female footballers who will contribute to the success of both club and national teams,” she said.
“Girls, women, boys and men will have access to sport facilities across NEOM – irrespective of age and capability... Bridges are being built that connect these young players to structured, talent pathways through regional training centers and professional clubs like NEOM Sport Club.”
Paterson is clear that the next five years will be critical, adding that the goal is to see these training centers full of athletes and for “young girls across the Kingdom [to believe] that football is for them.”
And while winning trophies is one of the goals, NEOM’s focus is broader, Paterson said.
“Success... goes far beyond winning trophies. It’s about developing infrastructure and increasing both national and international participation.”
The work of NEOM is firmly aligned with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program, which aim to promote wellness and equality through sport, Paterson told Al Arabiya English.
And, “To sustain and scale this momentum, we need continued investment in infrastructure, coach education and new competition formats,” she added.
Source: alarabiya.net
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2025/05/08/neom-championing-grassroots-to-build-lasting-legacy-of-saudi-women-s-football
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Saudi sovereign wealth fund deepens investment in women’s professional golf
MAY 7 2025
Saudi Arabia is deepening its investment in women’s professional golf.
The Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, announced on Wednesday that it will become the title partner of five events that will take place on the the Ladies European Tour.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As part of this latest deal, the tour will revamp the five events, which will be collectively rebranded as the PIF Global Series. The events take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Seoul, South Korea; London; Houston; and Shenzhen, China.
“PIF continues to be a catalyst for the growth of women’s sports, committed to delivering long-term transformative impact by inspiring and empowering female athletes at every level,” AlanoudAlthonayan, head of events and sponsorships at PIF, said in a statement.
The revamped tournament format will feature team and individual competitions happening simultaneously.
The Saudis are also injecting additional money into the prize pools, with a collective purse of $13 million across the five events.
Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said the partnership with PIF has helped raise the level of competition in the women’s game and gives players more opportunities to succeed on the world stage.
Saudi Arabia has been aggressively investing in professional sports in recent years as part of its vision to diversify the country’s economy away from oil. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has been slow to give Saudi women rights, those investments have included spending big money on international women’s sports.
Last May, the fund signed a multi-year partnership with the WTA Tour, the women’s professional tennis organization, to grow the game and improve women’s benefits in the league.
And in March, PIF announced it will fully fund the tour’s maternity fund, which would allow women to take up to a year of leave fully paid.
However, PIF’s foray into men’s golf has been more complicated.
Nearly two years ago, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan appeared on CNBC, announcing a merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. But that deal has yet to happen, despite the latest push by President Donald Trump to bring the two parties together.
The Aramco Korea Championship kicks off Friday in Seoul.
Source: cnbc.com
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/saudi-arabia-pif-womens-professional-golf.html
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US TV’s first lead cartoon hijabi: how I animated Muslim women to look real
7 May 2025
I created the hijabi mom character in #1 Happy Family USA. How she wears it is part of her personality – so I knew I had to get it right
If you’ve seen a hijab on a screen – animated or otherwise – it’s likely that this Islamic head covering was one specific style.
Think Princess Jasmine in the 1992 movie Aladdin, Claire Danes in the series Homeland, or the Zamins in the animated show The Proud Family:
In these fictional worlds, there’s typically a little hair poking out of a shawl that can be quickly slipped off. And people really do wear the hijab that way. But it exists in so many more iterations than this one particular style. There’s a whole world of choices between a niqab and nothing:
The way that the hijab is depicted matters. Not just for the half a billion people in the world who wear them, but for all Muslims, because this head covering has been a target for Islamophobia from France to the US. And since the right tends to conflate religion, race and culture, the hijab has also become a target of growing anti-Arab sentiment too.
When I was commissioned to create a hijabi character for Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady’s animated TV show #1 Happy Family USA, I thought a lot about how to draw it. This was the first time a main character in a US animated series would be shown wearing a headscarf and I wanted to get it right.
Hijabis don’t usually wear their headscarves when they’re in private spaces with family members. I thought about what the mother character, Sharia, would look like at home and outside of the house. The designs shouldn’t be totally separate. She’s still got a certain taste in color and comfort. Outdoors, her clothes are also part of her hijab. Sharia chooses to wear loose items that cover most of her body. Indoors, I wanted to be able to see this character’s sexuality without sexualizing her (unlike most in adult animations, this female lead doesn’t have thin thighs and a squeezed waist).
But another character in the show, Sharia’s mom, plays by her own rules. When her son-in-law suggests she takes off her niqab face covering to better blend into the community, Grandma objects. She won’t have a man tell her what to do! Ever! She even wears the niqab indoors as a feminist “fuck you” to the racist, Islamophobic world around her. Only her slippers change from the inside world to the outside world.
And then there’s the show’s teenage daughter, who doesn’t wear the headscarf and has never been asked to by anyone in her family (this was my experience too). Three generations of women, three different choices about what to do with their bodies. But how to get those depictions right?
First of all, how can you show that this fabric is often light and thin, not the bulky, cumbersome material often depicted in cartoons?
And then how can you go beyond bland colors to show that there can be personal expression in wearing hijab?
The hijab looks different from the right profile and the left:
And because it’s covering hair, that should be reflected in the shape. Most on-screen hijabs weirdly follow the shape of a skull, without considering the bun or ponytail that is often underneath the fabric.
And then there’s the fun of animation. The hijab has to move. Just like any other item of clothing.
The character shouldn’t simply ignore their hijab. How they use it is a part of their character. Do they adjust it when they’re nervous, sleepy or feeling especially proud of themselves?
And they should use it, too! To make a hands-free call, shield themselves from a fart or polish their glasses.
For Sharia and so many others, the hijab isn’t just an outward expression of inner values. It’s as practical and fashionable an item of clothing as any other. It deserves to be depicted as such.
Source: theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/may/07/animation-hijab-1-happy-family
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/supreme-court-indian-army-women-officers/d/135471