Opinion: Does the President dislike the hijab?

The champion girls removed their hijabs for a meeting with the president. Previously, players had to shave their beards at a football match attended by the president.

Last summer, Uzbek Rayyona Ibrohimova won a gold medal at the World Olympiad in Germany. The images of the Uzbek girl, who won the German language competition against students from 62 countries, were published in local and foreign publications. They revealed that Rayyona Ibrohimova, from Andijan, was from a protective family and was wearing a hijab.

Shortly thereafter, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan announced that Rayyona Ibrohimova had been awarded the "Creator of the Future" medal by Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

With that, the news and articles about the girl who won the gold medal in language in Germany died down. A year later, today, Rayyona's photos are again circulating on social networks, and posts are being written about her. This time, Rayyona Ibrohimova's appearance became the talk of the town, rather than the fact that she received a state award from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In everyone's protective imagination, Rayyona was seen in the photos without a hijab, wearing a skullcap and a little makeup, in a classic Western look. Social media users are reporting that Rayyona removed her hijab for a meeting with the president.

"I was waiting for a picture of the girl standing next to our President in a headscarf. But when I looked, I couldn't find her. I found out that she had taken off her headscarf."

"As I was unwrapping the scarf, I deeply felt the conflict that was going on inside it," says the author of the Telegram channel "Kadirova Tahrirchi."

"There are many, many reports that those who opposed the Creator of the Universe during this 4-day life ended up in VERY bad ways," journalist Muhammad Shakur posted on his Facebook page.

One Twitter user noted that the incident of removing the hijab for a meeting with the president is not unique to Rayyona.

Among the awardees, para-athlete champion Fatima Saipova, along with other female awardees, wore a headscarf and classic Western clothing during her meeting with the president. Photos of the champion, who is wearing a hijab, are circulating on social media.

The fact that winners of both science and sports Olympiads removed their hijabs to meet with the president calls into question the country's attitude towards human rights.

Social media users are asking the following question to explain this situation to non-religious audiences:

"How would you react if a girl without a hijab was forced to wear one?"

In Uzbekistan, human rights and freedoms are enshrined in law. In particular, according to Article 13 of the country's Constitution, "Democracy in the Republic of Uzbekistan is based on universal human principles, according to which a person, his life, freedom, honor, dignity and other inalienable rights are considered the highest value."

Article 60 states, "Citizens are obliged to abide by the Constitution and laws, and to respect the rights, freedoms, honor, and dignity of other people."

In this sense, the author of the Telegram channel "Kadirova Tahrirchi" expresses the following opinion:

"When it comes to a democratic state, I demand that women with and without headscarves be treated equally, and that their choice be respected! When a woman's headscarf is forcibly removed, her entire faith, confidence, identity, and determination are also being ripped from her heart. This is an act that goes against rights, the law, and humanity..."

Today, the rights and freedoms of Muslims in Uzbekistan have become a pressing issue more than ever.

Because those who strip champion girls of their headscarves to meet with the president, those who shave Muslims' beards, and those who lower the volume of the call to prayer and try to prevent children from mosques and prayers are turning a blind eye to the fact that these actions violate current laws, let alone being held accountable.

Why were the champion girls shown to the president with their hijabs removed? Previously, players had to shave their beards at a football match attended by the president.

Do government officials not know that in a country where the population is predominantly Muslim, it is actually the norm for men to grow beards and for women to cover their bodies? Or are these actions a sign that the president dislikes Islam?

Owner Life