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Narjas Zatat
Oct 12, 2018
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M and S and Twitter
Retail clothing giant M & S are in the centre of controversy after they released a school uniform line that included a hijab for young Muslim girls.
The piece of religious attire is used to cover the hair of Muslim girls and it has been made available to purchase online for the first time as a result of popular demand.
The decision is being heavily criticised by parents and campaigners, who say it’s a form of oppression, whilst others accuse it of sexualising young girls.
Marks and Spencers works with 250 schools as their uniform supplier and they get requests for a wide range of clothes including trousers, skirts and shirts.
The hijabs, which can be found under the school uniform section for girls, is being sold for £6 and is designed to fit girls over the age of nine. However, a Twitter user who was testing M&S asked if it would fit his “three year old twins.” M&S responded that a medium would.
LBC Radio presenter and founder of the Quilliam Foundation Maajid Nawaz tweeted his outrage. “Little girls are told it is “immodest” to show their hair. And blessed be the fruit.”
He added that M& S’ decision to sell the item of clothing is “medieval.”
M&S responded by saying they were filling a demand.
“We provide bespoke uniforms for 250 schools across the country and they tell us which items they need as part of their school uniform list. For a number of schools this year, they requested the option of the hijab.”
However, some people remained unimpressed by the explanation
Others were less incensed, and are pointing out that M&S is just responding to a market
There is also the argument that grown men deciding what parts of a little girl should be uncovered is equally problematic
indy100 has contacted Marks and Spencer for comment.
More: Miss England 2018: Muslim student first ever to compete for title wearing hijab