Faizel Patel – 05/08/2021
The Co-Director of Allibhai Wadee Incorporated and attorney at the Umar (RA) Legal Clinic access to justice portal at Islamic Helpline Lenasia says a Muslim lawyer who made an Islamophobic remark at the start of the virtual sitting at the Constitutional Court is offensive to Muslim women.
Sumaya Wadee Mahomed was speaking to Radio Islam about the remarks which happened at the Apex court hearing on Thursday during an application by the Women’s Legal Centre Trust (WLC) to provide finality on the state’s obligation to recognise Muslim marriages
During the first few minutes of proceedings, Yasmeen Omar an attorney who works for Zehir Omar Attorneys allegedly passed a remark at Nazreen Bawa, a Muslim lawyer dressed in a hijab.
Omar had her mic unmuted and could be heard saying “she’s dressed like a ninja”
Wadee who also wears a hijab says using the term “ninja” to refer to Muslim women who don the niqab is offensive.
“It likens the person to something they are not. For instance, we as Muslim women face many stereotypes and much criticism when we try to express our deen by dressing in accordance with our deen.”
Wadee says Muslim female professionals already face the patriarchy of the legal profession.
“So we already face challenges and then it is very disparaging and hurtful to hear something like that come from a colleague and somebody who is also Muslim. It’s a type of gendered Islamophobia, associated with negative stereotype and is meant to be and traditionally used in a demeaning manner.”
Wadee says the remarks by Omar snatches away the work done by Muslim attorneys who are behind the veil.
Soon after the recording of the virtual sitting was posted to Twitter, Omar said she had not been referring to Bawa.
Listen to the interview with Sumaya Wadee Mahomed
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