Letters | Hong Kong should uphold Muslim women’s right to wear the hijab

Readers discuss the importance of the freedom of religion in a cosmopolitan city, the need for sensible rules to reduce plastic waste, and the ICC’s demand for accountability in Gaza war

Reading Time:3 minutes

Women wearing the hijab enjoy a sunny afternoon on the waterfront in Tin Hau on April 23, 2022. While Hong Kong has anti-discrimination ordinances, loopholes in legislation mean women can find it difficult to seek redress after being mistreated for wearing a hijab. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 11:30am, 26 May 2024

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification

Hong Kong must confront the barriers hijab-wearing Muslim women face in securing employment and fully participating in public life. The recent case of Saana Qalsoom, a qualified Hong Kong graduate who was turned away from teaching jobs for refusing to remove her hijab, shines a spotlight on the lack of protections against religious discrimination in the city.

Qalsoom’s experience is unfortunately not an isolated one. Despite Hong Kong’s reputation as a cosmopolitan city, many Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab as an expression of their faith continue to encounter bias and prejudice.

Employers might incorrectly view the hijab as incompatible with professional norms, leading them to discriminate against qualified candidates. This denies opportunities to talented individuals and robs Hong Kong of the diverse perspectives and skills minority communities can contribute.

Article 32 of the Basic Law states that Hong Kong residents have freedom of conscience, freedom of religious belief and freedom to preach, conduct and participate in religious activities in public. The Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance incorporates the religious freedom protections of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Wearing the hijab should be considered an essential religious practice for Muslim women. Banning it would be an unconstitutional violation of their right to freely profess and practise their faith. The freedom of religion guaranteed by the Basic Law should extend to Muslim women’s choice to wear the hijab.