The Use of the Hijab in Mozambique: Between Religious Freedom, Civil Identification, and Security Challenges

Ronélio Zandamela"

Currently, Mozambique is experiencing a debate that raises different interpretations and feelings, particularly among women who profess the Islamic faith, who claim to feel excluded. This community has presented a proposed law that aims to allow the use of the hijab (Muslim veil) in all public spaces, including when taking photographs for the Identity Card (BI). To better reflect on this subject, we propose to analyze it in the following dimensions: Legal Dimension Mozambique is a State governed by the rule of law, with a Constitution. Article 12, paragraphs 1 to 4, establishes that: “1. The Republic of Mozambique is a secular state; 2. Secularism is based on the separation between the State and religious denominations; 3. Religious denominations are free in their organization and in the exercise of their worship functions and must conform to the laws of the State; 4. The State recognizes and values ​​the activities of religious denominations aimed at promoting a climate of understanding, tolerance, peace and the strengthening of national unity, the spiritual and material well-being of citizens and economic and social development. As can be seen, the Mozambican State recognizes the existence and role of religious denominations, but remains separate from them, guaranteeing their practice without political interference. On the other hand, it assumes its role as legislator, requiring all religious denominations to conform to and respect the norms in force in the national territory. Furthermore, article 54, in its paragraphs 1 and 2, establishes that: “1. Citizens enjoy the freedom to practice or not practice a religion; 2. No one may be discriminated against, persecuted, harmed, deprived of rights, benefited or exempted from duties because of their faith, belief or religious practice. From this article, it is understood that every citizen has the right to choose their religion or belief and should not be discriminated against because of that choice. However, regardless of religious affiliation, the Mozambican state must ensure equal rights for all individuals, whether believers or not. Examples of this include granting a day off for Easter to the Christian community and during Ramadan to the Islamic community, as well as the participation of the nation's highest magistrate in ceremonies wearing Muslim attire, even without professing that religion. Religious Dimension At this point, it's important to begin by understanding what the hijab is and its meaning for the Islamic community. Generally, the hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women that covers the hair, ears, and neck, leaving the face uncovered. Etymologically, Hijab (حجاب) means, in Arabic, "covering, curtain or screen". The word derives from حجب, which means "to cover" or "to protect from strangers". There are verses in the Quran that address this issue: "...and let them not display their adornments except what is (naturally) apparent; let them draw their headscarves over their bosoms..." (Quran, 24th Surah, An-Nur, verse 31); and "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments over their outer garments (when they go out). That is more suitable so that they may be distinguished from others and not be molested..." (Quran, 33rd Surah, Al-Ahzab, verse 59). As can be seen, the hijab is not a simple adornment, but part of the religious guidelines attributed to Allah and transmitted by the Prophet Muhammad. It carries immeasurable significance for women who profess the Islamic faith, being associated with privacy, modesty, dignity, and morality, and is also understood as a symbol of separation between man and God. Socio-educational dimension Socially, Mozambique does not register widespread proven cases of discrimination based on religion. Men and women of this community move freely, dressed in Islamic clothing, just as any other citizen wears their own clothes. In order to guarantee the inclusion of these groups, there are establishments where the sale and consumption of products considered haram by Muslims, such as alcoholic beverages, pork and its derivatives, is prohibited. For a long time, the use of the hijab was not permitted in some public and private schools, with the exception of institutions of Islamic origin. However, following demands from this community, access to education is now permitted with or without a hijab, although some schools are still in the process of adapting. This resistance may be related to customary norms and practices, the abandonment of which constitutes a challenge. Nevertheless, the Government has shown sensitivity to the issue, so much so that the President of the Assembly of the Republic (AR), Margarida Adamugy Talapa, received representatives of the Islamic Community in Mozambique to hear their concerns. It is important to note that the President of the AR herself professes the Islamic religion and performs her duties wearing the hijab. Administrative Dimension During the hearing with representatives of the Islamic Community in Mozambique, as part of the public consultation on the proposed Law on Freedom of Religion and Worship, a proposal was presented to the President of the Assembly of the Republic that aims to allow the issuance of Identity Cards to Muslim women wearing the hijab, as this is a manifestation of their religious identity. However, the National Directorate of Civil Identification structures the data required for issuing the ID card into two groups: biometric data, related to the individual's physical characteristics, such as height, fingerprint, facial expression, eye color, ears, and hair characteristics; and biographical data, referring to documentary identification, such as name, kinship, age, address, and place of birth. Among the guidelines established for taking the photograph are: avoid white clothing, since the background of the image should be white or light, which could cause a loss of contrast in the shoulder area; do not use head coverings such as caps, hats, hoods or scarves; and maintain a natural appearance, without hair covering the eyes or other striking facial features. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure the proper identification of the citizen, allowing relevant physical characteristics to be visible in the photograph on the Identity Card. It is precisely in this aspect that the conflict arises with the use of the hijab, as it covers the ears and hair. Security Dimension Mozambique is currently facing terrorism in the northern region of the country, particularly affecting the province of Cabo Delgado, where the presence of the Islamic community is significant. On the other hand, one of the extremist groups responsible for violent attacks, calling itself Al Sunnah wa Jama'ah (ASWJ), has at times justified its actions in the name of Islam, and the use of Muslim clothing by some of its members is also known. We do not intend to establish any link between the Islamic religion and the promotion of terrorism. However, considering the similarity of some clothing and the challenges of identification, it is important to reflect on the security implications of relaxing identification rules. The use of veils could, under certain circumstances, be used to facilitate the transport of logistical resources for the benefit of armed groups, including terrorist organizations. Similarly, the use of the hijab may pose additional challenges to the work of the Immigration Police at the borders, creating opportunities for disguised individuals, whether women or men, to enter or leave the country and potentially take advantage of respect for Islamic religious practices. Inferences The Mozambican state is governed by the principle of secularism, which does not mean favoring the will of a particular religious group, since the powers of the state and religious denominations are distinct. Women are not prohibited from wearing the hijab, but they must understand that there are circumstances in which certain legal and administrative requirements override individual preferences, as no one is above the law. The prohibition of wearing a hijab in identification document photographs does not necessarily mean religious exclusion; it may represent a requirement for standardization of civil identification procedures. After all, there are different beliefs, each with its own clothing and symbols. Flexibility without uniform criteria could raise questions about the treatment of other religious expressions and forms of dress. Finally, we understand that not wearing the veil in certain circumstances may represent an embarrassment for some Muslim women. However, the issue should not be analyzed solely from a religious perspective, but also in light of civil identification requirements and security challenges, considering that these matters concern not only women who wear the hijab, but the protection of all Mozambican citizens.

2025/12/3