Okay, So I have a similar story. I was rejected for a job just because I observe hijab. Thread. https://twitter.com/AyeshaA_Q/status/1300886258240180224

I am a journalism student and supposed to work in media as an employee. I applied for a job few days back. It was a local Hindi news portal based in Delhi and they were offering me a job of anchor.

They interviewed me, I got selected and salary was discussed. It was a telephonic interview so I told them that I observe hijab and will continue to do that during my job. To which the recruiter went silent and told me he can't proceed my application further.

Despite telling him that I have worked for @NewIndianXpress and @ndtv and @TCNLive (none of them asked me to remove my hijab) he was adamant on his demand that either I have to remove my hijab or I won't get a job. Also he said this is 'Hindustan'

and no media outlets (broadcast) have employed anyone wearing hijab. I assured him that I will do my work with the best of knowledge and you won't find any flaw in my work. But he was hesitant accepting anyone who observe hijab to work with his channel. He said,

"I hope you understand, I can't allow myself to do this otherwise they will shut my news outlet". I hung the call saying you please keep your job I will definitely find something which will let me work with my identity. Thank you. And to my surprise the recruiter was a MUSLIM.

I was very calm at call, but was shouting inside that what a job has to do with my religious Identity. Why can't I observe my faith at my workplace. This is not only culture but a whole created propaganda that Muslims can't assert their identity in this nation anyway.

I shared this incident with some of my friends and they said "you are in Hindustan not Pakistan". I mean what has Pakistan to do with my hijab. You say this nation is secular and the very constitution of this country allows me to observe, profess and propagate my religion.

"Article 25 of Indian Constitution gives freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion"
Where are your constitutional values now? Where is secular Bharat? Why a piece of cloth is bothering you so much?

You may call me extremist of backward for this but this is the right time to talk about it, there are so many like me who doesn't get the privilege to talk or share about this. I am writing this on behalf of all the women who got rejected for a job or admission because of this.

I take this opportunity to call out all the strong women out there who keep the courage to look straight into the eye of wrongdoer and wrong. I urge all of you to speak against this culture of being rejected for observing hijab/niqab at workplace or for that matter anywhere.

Thank you @AyeshaA_Q for putting it up here and giving me courage to speak up. Tagging you all here to speak up for against this #ReligiousFreedom
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