Give us more protection, Muslim women demand

A prominent Muslim group is urging the government to do more to combat "gender-based Islamophobia", The Independent can reveal.

- NADINE WHITE

Muslim communities, including women, are fearing for their lives amid UK-wide riots that have left dozens injured and resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Shaista Aziz, Amna Abdullatif and Huda Jawad, known as “The Three Hijabis”, have been contacted by Muslim women whose hijabs have been pulled off in the street. Yet there is no specific government strategy in place to safeguard Muslim women, despite the government’s stated “mission” to protect women and girls.

“Muslim women being afraid to travel into their town and city centres – making them no-go areas for them, is gendered Islamophobia,” a statement, first seen by The Independent, from The Three Hijabis says. “Muslim women have told us that they have changed their daily routine taking care not to be outside of their homes due to fear of being attacked by far-right mobs.

“Muslim women shared their concerns about the safety and wellbeing of their children, brothers, husbands and family members, particularly when attending mosque. Mosques have been the target of coordinated far-right Islamophobic attacks.” The statement continued: “We call for gendered Islamophobia to be acknowledged as a specific form of violence against women and girls at the highest levels of government.”

The Three Hijabis are also calling on specialist services to advocate for the safety of Muslim women and girls, recognising that it is part of their work to stand up for all women and communities. Muslim women have also expressed concerns over rumours circulating of them being targets of far-right violence including acid attacks.