Butambala District Woman Member of Parliament Aisha Kabanda has called for action on discriminatory actions at immigration offices and schools
Kabanda who raised the matter on the floor of parliament on Wednesday noted that while Article 29 (1) (c) of the Constitution guarantees that all persons have a right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and this right includes the freedom to manifest religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching, it was in total violation of this Article that women professing and practicing the Islamic faith were still forced to remove their head veils/scarves while taking passport size photographs at the passport offices, Ministry of Internal Affair.
The legislator noted that contrary to what has long been perceived as decorative nor ornamental, a veil was part and parcel of a woman’s clothing and that requiring one to unveil implied that women would be left half-dressed contrary to the Islamic teaching and practices.
Adding that exception could however be made but as such not in a way that exposes a Muslim woman forever just like a passport photograph does.
She noted that unfortunately the norm had also been manifested in different schools around the Country and that Moslem students have fallen victim to not being allowed to adorn head veils on the ground that in such schools the veil is not part of the school thus violating the liberty of parents to ensure that the education of their children is conducted in conformity with their own religious convictions.
Kabanda, therefore, urged Parliament to intervene in the matter, restrain the passport office and schools from violating people’s freedom to practice their religion, and manifest such practice as provided under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Ironically, according to the Guidelines for Passport Photographs of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which are responsible for standardizing travel documents, head coverings for religious reasons are permitted for passport photos so long as the facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face are shown clearly.
The act of coercing Moslem women to unveil therefore derogates and impairs their freedom to practice their religion and manifest as such since persons who manifest other religious practices are not forced by the passport office and schools to remove their clothing before offered services as said by the Honorable.
Adding that, it was the August house comprised of the people’s representatives that could redeem such sentiments.
Let not squeeze water from the rock, if the Prime Minister has promised a report and action taken plus what could be done, Anita Among, the speaker of Parliament responded sighting that she was also aware of the matter since she had earlier on got similar complaints of the Catholic Church as well and thus needed a collective resolution.
“The was a letter addressed by the Uganda Moslem Supreme Council (UMSC) to the immigration offices and l believe the minister will come up with a report on that effect and what could be done to best solve this problem because everyone must have their freedom,” Speaker noted
