Hijab Fights Malawi Harassment
“While women of other faith groups are going through the pain of sexual violence due to improper dressing, it’s been observed that there are low cases of sexual violence among Muslim women,” Fatima Ndaila, National Chairperson of Muslim Women Organization (MWO), told OnIslam.net.
“It is rare for women who put on hijab to be sexually molested.”
Over the past few years, sexual harassment targeting women has increased remarkably in Malawi.
The worrying phenomenon was less reported among Muslim women who chose to don the Islamic headscarf, or hijab.
“We have discovered that improper dressing among women has significantly contributed to the rising levels of sexual violence, because it attracts men. It’s not easy to change people’s mindset,” she said.
Ndaila said her organization was sensitizing the women and girls through mosques and other social gatherings on the need to put on hijab and follow teachings of the Noble Quran which advocate for among others, women to lower their gaze and at the same time dress modestly.
The National Chairperson of the country’s Muslim body, Sheikh Idrissa Mohummad said there was need for faith groups in the country to adopt a religious approach in the fight against sexual violence other than confrontational ways.
“We have to admit that we have a serious crisis. We need to find ways that would help to minimize the surging numbers of sexual violence,” Sheikh Muhammad said.
“In the Muslim community, we believe that only a religious approach could help to address matters. We therefore appeal to all faith groups to adopt this approach.”
Since the adoption of pluralistic politics in Malawi 20 years ago, the country has seen a rise in various forms of violence against women and children.
Source: On Islam
