While some people are discriminating against veiled women in Egypt for wearing a burkini, others are being discriminated against for not wearing it. Wherever you go in Egypt, whatever you wear, someone will object. It seems like everyone is obsessed with what women should or should not be wearing and there’s no right answer.
Unfortunately, a young Alexandrian girl, Habiba Tarek, who studies at Tanta University was subjected to bullying and discrimination while she was taking an exam for wearing a dress. Before your head starts to wander and imagine what kind of dress she was wearing, it was a very decent dress. In fact, it was a midi-length dress, with a three-quarter sleeve and not revealing, or tight in any way.
In the video below, with TV host and news anchor Amr Adib, Tarek recounts the entire incident and we are absolutely shocked, to say the least.
After Tarek finished her exam and went to the proctor to take back her ID, he looked at her and asked if she was Christian or Muslim. At that point, Tarek was still unfamiliar with what was happening or the relevancy of the question. But we’d just like to point out that not only is this extremely inappropriate, but no one has a right to bring religion into the subject!
As Tarek left the exam hall, she was encountered by two other proctors who had the audacity to ask her if she had forgotten to wear her pants! As one of them repeated the same inappropriate question and using religion as a right to allow herself to play God and judge Tarek based on her appearance, the other proctor took the bullying further by stating that she had seen Tarek’s ID and that she was previously veiled. But that’s not it, she then says ‘“After being veiled, you now you decided to be indecent and disrespectful?”
It’s not only her statement and that she had the audacity to say that to this poor girl’s face, but it’s the fact that they actually believe that taking off her veil and wearing a very decent dress makes her indecent? It baffles me how people think they have the right to comment on other people’s attire, especially in the name of religion!
How is it that they believe they are better humans than others just because of the way they dress? Can someone please tell me how it makes one a good Muslim to bully and judge other people like that? It is people like you that make Islam look so bad and that spread Islamophobia in our culture and others.
What is an Egyptian woman supposed to do to stop getting publicly harassed and be subjected to judgment and embarrassment in this way? When will all this be over? It’s becoming too much to deal with.
President of Tanta university
The slightly good news is that at least social media is effective because the President of Tanta University, Dr. Mahmoud Zaky decided to present the case to the court and we hope that the harassers get what they deserve. It’s time that everyone knows that no form of abuse or discrimination will be taken lightly.
Further reading:
- Veiled Egyptian Girl Banned From Swimming at Palm Hills
- I Refuse to Be Judged or Discriminated for Wearing a Burkini
- Dear Sexual Harassment Victims, This Is How You Can File A Complaint Anonymously
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