We must resist this gender apartheid or betray Islam’s women
Only two months in and already we have a strong contender for Worst Picture of the Year. I refer to the photograph showing Swedish female politicians, including trade minister Ann Linde, meekly walking before Iran’s President Rouhani wearing hijabs, chadors and long coats, in deference to the country’s “modesty law” which makes the hijab compulsory. Yes, this is the same Sweden which declares it has “the first feminist government in the world” and promised to promote “a gender equality perspective internationally”.
Fat lot of use that is to Iranian women who are fighting for the right not to wear the veil. Activist Masih Alinejad bravely created a Facebook page which encourages her peers to defy the law and show their hair as an act of resistance. It now has one million followers.
“European female politicians are hypocrites,” said Alinejad acutely. “They stand with French Muslim women and condemn the burkini ban – because they think compulsion is bad – but when it happens to Iranian women, they just care about money.”
I wonder what those Swedish feminists might think about Iran’s chess authorities punishing an 18-yearold player after she refused to cover her hair during a tournament in Israel. Dorsa Derakhshani is banned from competitions and will be “severely dealt with” after violating Islamic law. Given the above, could there be anything less welcome than London’s first Modest Fashion Week? God help us. “More than 40 designers showcased scarves, hijab and other loose-fitting garments (left) which send out a strong signal that the wearer wants nothing to do with slutty, disgusting Western values.”
I made that last bit up. But I’m struggling to understand the dumb bint who said she took a “positive message” from the “modest fashion” show in London. British women should be resisting gender apartheid with every fibre of our being, not allowing it to be smuggled into mainstream life under a pretty hijab.
Iranian women are putting their lives on the line to dress as they please. That really is to die for, darling.