Zach LarkinsMORE ON THE HIJAB
It didn't take long. Why couldn't we see this one coming? The Muslim Council of Montreal has taken up the plight of Sondos Abdelatif, 19, who was told that she would have to remove her hijab in order to continue with the training program at Montreal's Bordeaux jail. The fact that shechose to withdraw from the program is not going to stand in the way of those who want to blow the incident out of proportion. Quebec's Public Security Department said the Muslim headwear could pose a threat to Abdelatif's safety should prisoners get hostile. "As a security measure, the hijab cannot be accepted as an element of the uniform to execute the functions of a correctional officer," department spokesman Real Roussy said.
Maybe that's what it boils down to. The uniform. Going into the training, Abdelatif would have been aware that guards are required to tie their hair back and no ties are allowed. For those of you who don't get it, a tie can be grabbed by an inmate and used to choke the wearer to death. Open collars are mandated. The hijab can also be used to form a noose around the head of the wearer and choke her to death. Abdelatif would have known she wouldn't be able to wear the hijab, so why did she try to become a prison guard in the first place? We had the same scenario when a Sikh wanted to become a Mountie, yet be allowed to wear his turban. The Mounties caved and the Sikh is now one of them. But he too knew what the official uniform was when he applied and he was quite content in raising a fuss, basing his case on discrimination. It's funny, but I don't recall any Sikhs making a ruckus to wear a turban if they apply for a job at McDonalds. Nor any Muslims demanding to wear a hijab if they apply to Wendy's. Why? Because they simply don't apply for those types of jobs.
This is not to say that anyone should be told what jobs they can or can't apply for. However, it is interesting to note that some Sikhs or Muslims apply for jobs where they know they are bucking a rule and cry discrimination when they are refused employment. In our politically correct society, we are quick to dispel any notion of prejudice and so it follows that the day will come when someone uses this ploy to gain employment when, say, their school grades aren't up to snuff.
Salam Elmenyawi, head of the Muslim Council of Montreal, said, "It is an ultimatum, remove the hijab or you're out of here. That's not a security issue, this is much more a bigoted issue." I don't think so, but then I'm not as wise as Elmenyawi. All I see is a safety issue. "The piece of the scarf is not sacred," he said. "The idea is to cover the hair. If the hair and neck are covered by any other means that could be easily removed, then it would not cause any kind of security issue." I suppose then that she could wear a baseball cap with a cloth at the back (like those French Foreign Legion hats) to cover her neck and she'd be okay. But if the entire neck has to be covered, she has a problem. Anything that loops around your neck can be used to strangle you. Members of other Muslim groups have pointed out that Velcro-fastened hijabs could offer an easy solution. I don't think so. Have you ever tried to pull Velcro apart when you're in a hurry? It's damn near impossible.
"The department made its decision yesterday, it's the same today," he said. "It's a security measure." Roussy stressed that it was Abdelatif's decision to pull out of the training program. "We informed the person when she arrived at training with her hijab that it could cause her problems." Elmenyawi says, "Whenever there is a dispute like this, what is really very hurtful for all of us is that it just shows that we don't fit." What nonsense. Elmenyawi seems not to want to fit. Most Canadians don't have anything against a hijab, or a turban for that matter, and see it merely as a piece of clothing denoting one's religion. Abdelatif is apparently exploring her options about how to fight the decision. "I have to do something," she said. "I'm just not sure what."
With people like Elmenyawi behind her, all we can do is sit back and wait for a lawsuit to be launched. Heaven forbid she might have to seek another line of work.
Sources: Jonathan Montpetit Muslim Groups Decry The Canadian Press
Maybe that's what it boils down to. The uniform. Going into the training, Abdelatif would have been aware that guards are required to tie their hair back and no ties are allowed. For those of you who don't get it, a tie can be grabbed by an inmate and used to choke the wearer to death. Open collars are mandated. The hijab can also be used to form a noose around the head of the wearer and choke her to death. Abdelatif would have known she wouldn't be able to wear the hijab, so why did she try to become a prison guard in the first place? We had the same scenario when a Sikh wanted to become a Mountie, yet be allowed to wear his turban. The Mounties caved and the Sikh is now one of them. But he too knew what the official uniform was when he applied and he was quite content in raising a fuss, basing his case on discrimination. It's funny, but I don't recall any Sikhs making a ruckus to wear a turban if they apply for a job at McDonalds. Nor any Muslims demanding to wear a hijab if they apply to Wendy's. Why? Because they simply don't apply for those types of jobs.
This is not to say that anyone should be told what jobs they can or can't apply for. However, it is interesting to note that some Sikhs or Muslims apply for jobs where they know they are bucking a rule and cry discrimination when they are refused employment. In our politically correct society, we are quick to dispel any notion of prejudice and so it follows that the day will come when someone uses this ploy to gain employment when, say, their school grades aren't up to snuff.
Salam Elmenyawi, head of the Muslim Council of Montreal, said, "It is an ultimatum, remove the hijab or you're out of here. That's not a security issue, this is much more a bigoted issue." I don't think so, but then I'm not as wise as Elmenyawi. All I see is a safety issue. "The piece of the scarf is not sacred," he said. "The idea is to cover the hair. If the hair and neck are covered by any other means that could be easily removed, then it would not cause any kind of security issue." I suppose then that she could wear a baseball cap with a cloth at the back (like those French Foreign Legion hats) to cover her neck and she'd be okay. But if the entire neck has to be covered, she has a problem. Anything that loops around your neck can be used to strangle you. Members of other Muslim groups have pointed out that Velcro-fastened hijabs could offer an easy solution. I don't think so. Have you ever tried to pull Velcro apart when you're in a hurry? It's damn near impossible.
"The department made its decision yesterday, it's the same today," he said. "It's a security measure." Roussy stressed that it was Abdelatif's decision to pull out of the training program. "We informed the person when she arrived at training with her hijab that it could cause her problems." Elmenyawi says, "Whenever there is a dispute like this, what is really very hurtful for all of us is that it just shows that we don't fit." What nonsense. Elmenyawi seems not to want to fit. Most Canadians don't have anything against a hijab, or a turban for that matter, and see it merely as a piece of clothing denoting one's religion. Abdelatif is apparently exploring her options about how to fight the decision. "I have to do something," she said. "I'm just not sure what."
With people like Elmenyawi behind her, all we can do is sit back and wait for a lawsuit to be launched. Heaven forbid she might have to seek another line of work.
Sources: Jonathan Montpetit Muslim Groups Decry The Canadian Press
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