While respecting a recent fatwa by a leading British Muslim scholar allowing them to take off hijab to avoid spiraling harassment, a number of young British Muslim women said they would keep their religious dress code and seek police porotection against racists.
"As a British citizen I have every right to wear my hijab, which is part of my Muslim identity," Yusra, a University of London student, told IslamOnline.net by phone, referring to the Constitution's freedom of religion article.
"If harassed because of my religion, I would immediately resort to the Metropolitan Police to protect me from racists."
She maintained that taking off her hijab would be tantamount to giving in to extremists and racists "who would not stop at that."
Sheikh Zaki Badawi, the principal of the Muslim College in London and chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams in Britain, told IOL Thursday, July 28, 2005, that Muslim women in Britain can don off their hijab to head off racist attacks.
"I have issued a fatwa that Muslim women in Britain have an Islamic right to take off their hijab at this point of time if attacked or fearing to be attacked," he said, citing 15,000 assault against hijab-clad women in three days.
A Guardian/ICM poll published July 26, 2005 indicated that nearly half a million Muslims contemplated leaving Britain after the London attacks.
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I cannot believe this!! Wow!! To be honest it makes sense but I don't see why or how the word of a muslim scholar should be taken as law!! What he says or anyone else says is an opinion and not the "law" of Islam. Only the Qur'an is the word of god. I get that seeking the help of a scholar to try and understand Allah's position on the matter from the Qur'an is helpful but ultimately what you do after that should be your decision and your decision alone. Not to blindly be following the word of a scholar who is only human, and can make mistakes. I think I would keep my Hijab on, but it depends on the individuals circumstances, and the threat/risk involved. You shouldn't die for it.
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