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Muslim women allowed to wear hijab on duty after brave officer challenges S African army in court
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Fri, Jan 29, 2021 The Military Court withdrew charges against Major Isaacs. She is allowed to wear her head wrap subject to certain restrictions, says the Legal Resources Centre. Twitter/@LRC SouthAfrica/via The News
JOHANNESBURG: Muslim women in the South African army have been allowed to wear
hijab, or headscarves, when on duty, a spokesperson confirmed on Thursday after a brave officer challenged the military in the country s equality court.
Earlier this week, the South African Defence Force (SANDF) agreed to amend its policy, allowing any Muslim women who chose to cover their heads while on duty to do so without repercussions.
South Africa s army permits hijab for Muslim women under revised uniform policy
By
Friday Jan 29, 2021
The South African Defence Force s decision to revise its dress policy came after Major Fatima Isaacs challenged regulations restricting religious wear in the country s equality court. AFP/Marco Longari
South Africa s army agrees to amend its policy, allowing any Muslim women to cover their heads while on duty
Decision comes after Major Fatima Isaacs challenged the army in South Africa s equality court for not amending dress policy
Major Isaacs was criminally charged in June 2018 with failing to obey lawful instructions and wilful defiance
JOHANNESBURG: The South African army has permitted Muslim women to wear
Groundbreaking headscarf victory for Muslim women in SANDF
By Nicola Daniels, Siphokazi Vuso
Jan 28, 2021
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Cape Town – In a groundbreaking decision, the South African Defence Force (SANDF) has amended its military religious dress policy to accommodate the wearing of a headscarf with military uniform.
This followed the three-year- battle of Major Fatima Isaacs, a Muslim woman who wore a headscarf covering her hair and head under her military beret in accordance with her religious beliefs since she officially joined the force in February 2010.
In June 2018, she was instructed that the wearing of the headscarf was contrary to the SANDF dress policy instruction amendment number 5: Wearing of Religious and Medical Adornments by SANDF Members in Uniform (2002) (Religious Dress Policy).
defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
Major Fatima Isaacs. Picture via Twitter.
The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) religious dress policy now allows a head scarf to be worn while a soldier or other national defence force staffer is in uniform.
The change to the policy comes in the wake of a SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) major facing military disciplinary action after wearing a scarf covering her hair and head in accordance with her religion, the Cape Times reports. Her maroon SAMHS beret was – and is – worn on top of the scarf. According to the Cape Town daily, Major Fatima Isaacs of 2 Military Hospital has done this since joining the medical service of the SANDF 10 years ago.