Bosnian women protest head scarf ban in judiciary
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 February 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bosnian women protest head scarf ban in judiciary, 8 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56c429ade.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 08, 2016
Some 2,000 people, mostly women, have protested in Bosnia's capital against a ban on wearing the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, in courts and other legal institutions.
The protesters marched for around an hour in the center of Sarajevo on February 7.
Some of the demonstrators held banners with slogans such as "The hijab is my right."
Protest organizer Samira Zunic Velagic described the ban as a "serious attack against Muslim honor, personality, and identity" and said it aimed at depriving Muslim women of their right to work.
The rally came after Bosnia's judicial high council recently banned "religious signs" in judicial institutions.
The ban concerns judges and other employees in the sector, and explicitly mentions the hijab, a scarf which covers hair, ears, and neck.
The decision was condemned by Muslim political and religious leaders in the country, where Muslims make up about 40 percent of the population.
Based on reporting by AFP and the BBC
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
