Mandarins at the Foreign Office invited staff to wear Islamic headscarves for the day, claiming they symbolised ‘liberation, respect and security’.
The department was accused of backing the ‘institutional oppression of women’ by giving away taxpayer-funded headscarves at a walk-in event to mark World Hijab Day.
The event was held as women in ultra-conservative Iran burned their headscarves in protest at being forced to wear them or face arrest and prison.
Many Muslim women across the world have shunned the hijab – which covers the hair and neck but not the face – as an antiquated, oppressive, religious tool.
The event was last Thursday, just days before Britain marked the 100th anniversary of women being given the vote. [1090 comments]
[TOP RATED COMMENT 6370 votes] Why? What a total waste of time and money!
[2ND 5475] Meanwhile in Iran women in Iran are burning them. We are mad.
[3RD 5303] And this is Britain??????
[4TH 4656] Shall we have wear a crucifix next day
[5TH 3923] You could not make this up. What county are we living in again? [Daily Mail] Read more
