Women urge end to 'jilbab' discrimination
Women urge end to 'jilbab' discrimination
Muhammad Uzair and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Palembang/Semarang
In observance of Jilbab (Muslim headscarf) International
Solidarity Day on Saturday, hundreds of Indonesian Muslim women
staged separate protests in two cities against alleged
discrimination against them.
In Palembang, South Sumatra, around 200 women wearing
headscarves gathered at the Fountain Circle to demand that the
government stop discriminating against jilbab wearers.
The protesters comprised activists from at least eight student
groups in Palembang, such as the Indonesia Muslim Student
Association (HMI) and the Indonesian Muslim Student Movement
(PMII).
Grouped in the Alliance of South Sumatra Muslim Women, the
students carried banners, which had slogans such as: "Stop
Pornography" and "Stop Discriminating against Women".
"In Indonesia, discrimination (against jilbab wearers) is not
visible, but the ban on wearing headscarves when taking photos
for school diplomas is a form of discrimination and should
immediately be lifted," rally coordinator Mustika Wati said
during the protest.
The government does not ban Indonesian Muslims from wearing
the jilbab in public or private places. However, certain schools
often prohibit students from taking pictures with headscarves on
for school photos.
Also in some offices, Muslim women have reportedly been
required to take them off.
The protesters also slammed the exploitation of women in the
media. "We urge the government to immediately speed up the
endorsement of the anti-pornography bill. Just watch TV. Women
are just made a medium for sexual arousal," stated Mustika.
A similar rally was held by dozens of Muslim women in
Semarang, Central Java, grouped in the Semarang Muslim Women's
Alliance.
Gathering on Jl. Pahlawan, they demanded that the government
ensure the freedom for Muslim women to wear thejilbab in all
places.
The demonstrators explained that the jilbab is a special
symbol for Muslim women and that wearing it is one of the things
required by the religion.
"If there are countries that ban Muslim women from wearing the
jilbab, it means they are violating human rights," protest
coordinator Retno Handayani said, while condemning France and
Turkey for imposing bans.
France has drawn criticism from some Muslims around the world
for banning the jilbab -- and other religions' symbols -- in
government offices.
"The jilbab is not only a trendy fashion statement, but also
an obligation for Muslims. Therefore, they must stop trampling on
human rights with these jilbab bans," Retno stated.
She said the Indonesian government allows the use of jilbab,
but has failed to stop some schools and offices from asking
Muslims to take them off.
"I was once ordered by my school not to put my picture, while
wearing a jilbab, on my school diploma. Moreover, many women have
been forced to take it off before starting new jobs," Retno
alleged.