Pervez Hoodbhoy’s anti-hijab remarks: Why is there intolerance against women’s clothing?

Hashtags of ‘Hijab is obligatory’ and ‘Hoodbhoy’ have been trending on social media in Pakistan since the morning after a Pakistani female anchor decided to cover her face in a burqa during a live TV program as a protest against an anti hijab remark.

The belittle comments were made by non-other than Pakistan’s leading nuclear scientist Pervez Hoodbhoy. He not only made anti hijab remarks but also publically targeted women in hijab.

Clothing choices are a crucial part of women’s appearance as they are more likely to be blamed for what they wear. People especially men become extremists when it comes to women choosing their dress code on their own. The question remains the same; why?

Pervez Hoodbhoy

Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy is a nuclear physicist and activist who had previously taught physics at the Quaid-e-Azam University.

He remains one of Pakistan’s most prominent academics. Hoodbhoy is generally considered one of the most vocal, progressive, and liberal members of the Pakistani intelligentsia.   

Hoodbhoy’s anti-hijab remarks

Earlier this week, during a talk show, Hoodbhoy, who was in the middle of giving an interview talked about women who wear hijab in educational institutes.

Hoodbhoy spoke that he started teaching in 1973 and rarely saw any woman on campus with hijab. Now, hijabi and burqa-clad women have outnumbered ‘normal’ girls in educational institutes, he was quoted as saying.

“قائدِ اعظم یونیورسٹی میں حجاب، برقع عام ہو گیا ہے، اب تو آپ کو **نارمل** لڑکی شاد و نادر ہی نظر آتی ہیں۔ حجاب والی لڑکیوں کی ایکٹویٹی بہت گھٹ جاتی ہے۔”
ڈاکٹر پرویز ہود بائی pic.twitter.com/siyL6gWXEt

— Umar (@umaraqti) September 14, 2021

The physicist went on to say that hijab and burqa reduce the class participation of these girls to the point that they do not even ask questions and sometimes you cannot even sense their presence in the classroom. He said that earlier girls used to ask the question and he would gladly answer them.

Flak over viral video

Soon after his remarks, the video clip of Pervez Hoodbhoy went viral on social media sparking outrage among social media users.

Many users not only slammed Pervez Hoodbhoy for passing disparaging comments against the hijabi women but also argued that hijabi women are equally talented and capable as other non-hijabi women. 

Hijab and women

Hijab is a symbolic icon for Muslim women. It gives a modest look to the women who wear it. Women especially Muslims have been fighting for their human rights all over the world.

They often face discrimination and violence mostly in non-Islamic countries for covering their head, face, or entire body. All women, regardless of religious background or nationality, are subject to this rule.

Pakistani anchor’s unique protest

TV anchor Kiran Naz protested against the anti hijab remarks in a unique way and decided to cover her face. Naz wore a hijab during a live TV show in solidarity with the hijabi women.

She also argued that hijabi women are deserving of equal respect and opportunities in response to the regressive comments passed by Pervez Hoodbhoy. According to Naz, she does not wear hijab but hijab is part of Pakistani culture.

Intolerance against women’s choice of clothing

We as a society label people by the way they dress especially women. Wearing a hijab or burqa in public is often linked with oppression in western. but now, the same pattern can be seen being practiced in Pakistan as well.

Intelligent personalities like Hoodbhoy think women wearing hijabs are foolish without any practical judgment, why? because the woman is wearing a hijab. It should be a woman’s personal choice to wear what and how she wants.  

Well known females in hijab

In 2012, Zahra Lari from the United Arab Emirates became the first woman in history to compete in figure skating in hijab. 

In 2015, Mariah made headlines all over the world for becoming the world’s first hijabi model. In 2021, Halima Aden became the first black hijab-wearing supermodel.  Stephanie Kurlow became the world’s first Hijabi Ballerina.