Over the years, there have been various claims about why the PAP government ban the hijab.
One common excuse is that it is only a matter of time. According to this claim the government is trying to expand the common space and will allow the hijab in due course.
This excuse is amazing in how ridiculous it is.
When I discussed the hijab ban with Allahyarham Ustadz Abu Bakar Hashim several years ago, he told me that it was time the issue was resolved.
He demanded that we double the effort.
No more quiet begging. We need to stand up and be clear that the government should stop discriminating our sisters.
According to Ustadz Abu Bakar, the first time he heard of the problem was in 1972. He said it had been almost 30 years (then).
It is now 43 years.
How much longer will the government need to oppress our sisters?
How much longer will they use the excuse of needing time?
How much longer will we keep quiet while our sisters are abused?
The hijab ban has nothing to do with expanding common space. If it was, the government would have been able to do it a long time ago.
They had 43 years to do it.
And yet, they keep discriminating our sisters.
They keep forcing Muslim ladies to take off an article of clothing.
They forced us to beg for their approval.
It has been 43 years.
And it will keep going 43 years more.
Source: Zulfikar Shariff
