This British nursery worker in Kuwait was asked to remove her hijab for her job
This British nursery worker in Kuwait was asked to remove her hijab for her job
A British woman living in Kuwait has accused a nursery of demanding her to remove her hijab in order to work for them.
4 min read
12 Oct, 2017
Fouzia's allegation has sparked controversy in the conservative Muslim country [Instagram]
A British woman living in Kuwait has accused a nursery of demanding she remove her hijab if she wanted to be hired to "appeal to local parents."
Fouzia Khatun made the allegation in an Instagram post on Wednesday against The English Playgroup in the Kuwaiti capital, accusing the school of religious discrimination.
"I always considered myself one of them lucky individuals as I have never been a victim of Islamophobia or racial discrimination," Khatun wrote.
"To say I applied for a job in Kuwait where I felt I would easily fit in due to same religious beliefs and Islamic mind of thoughts, where I thought being a hijabi would be an honour… only to go and be asked to take off the one piece of clothing that made me want to move to Kuwait in the first place," she added.
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To say I applied for a job in Kuwait where I felt I would easily fit in due to same religious beliefs and Islamic mind of thoughts, where I thought being a hijabi would be an honour |  |
Khatun posted a screenshot of an email correspondence between herself and a school administrator, who asks her if she could take off the veil while teaching.
"Kuwaiti parents like British teachers but not wearing the hijab," the email says.
In another email, the school says that if she fails the comply with the request she will be denied employment.
The New Arab has contacted the school for comment but has yet to receive a reply.
| Instagram Post |
The allegation has sparked controversy in the conservative Muslim country, where the majority of women wear the hijab.
"As a Kuwaiti hijabi I find this utterly appalling and completely unacceptable," said one Instagram user.
Discrimination against hijab-wearing women in Muslim countries is surprisingly common in the workplace and privately owned businesses.
This year, Egypt had to issue a ban against hotels enforcing a ban on the burkini after reports emerged of women being ejected from private beaches and pool for wearing the full-body swimsuit.
Many high-end Egyptian hotels, restaurants and cafes bar entry to veiled women.
In September, Lebanese students rallied in the prestigious American University of Beirut to protest discrimination against a hijabi student by a professor.
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