President defends niqab, says no discrimination based on attire

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu defends niqabis, and urged employers against discriminate hiring practices based the dressing choices of people.

In a post on X, President Dr. Muizzu said no one should be discriminately treated so long as they dress modestly in accordance with the Islamic principles, and nor should they be ill-treated for such choices.

He further emphasized the need to repeal or revoke all statutes and regulations that facilitate such discriminatory practice.

“We have already ordered relevant authorities to take necessary action to ensure such reforms. We must all commit to ensuring our society upholds justice and equality for all,” President Muizzu said in his statement.

President Muizzu’s statements has come after reports of Dhaalu Hulhudheli magistrate court’s refusal to employ a niqabi woman, circulated on social media.

The woman in question, had shared a post on social media, stating she applied for a vacant administrative officer post at the court. In the post, she said that the court sent an email to her, after her practical exam and interview, stating she could not be employed because of her niqab.

She also shared a screenshot of the magistrate court’s email response in her post. The court in its response said, that the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) had advised the court against proceeding with the recruitment process since the woman wears niqab, which is against the Article 129 of the Regulation of Judicial Employees that stipulates employees must dress in a manner that does not conceal their identity during official working hours.

The court in its response notified that the woman was disqualified based on DJA’s counsel.

Earlier, the former government approved a contentious policy that demanded teachers who wear niqab, not wear it during classroom hours.

The Ministry of Education later in August last year, revised the disciplinary standard to allow niqabi teachers the chance to educate without removing their face-cover.