Justice For All Condemns Hijab Discrimination in Sri Lanka, Calls for National Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY (August 21, 2026)

Justice For All condemns the ongoing systemic discrimination and Islamophobia against Muslim women in Sri Lanka following reports that nine Muslim female health assistants at Kalmunai North Base Hospital were instructed to remove their hijabs as a condition of employment. This incident reflects a broader pattern of state-sanctioned Islamophobic policies targeting Muslim women’s religious attire in schools, public services and healthcare settings.

“The hijab is a religious obligation, not a security threat,” said Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice For All. “Forcing a Muslim woman to remove the headscarf she has freely adopted, makes her choose between her faith and her livelihood. Religious identity and professional responsibilities can coexist.”

Sri Lanka is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom to manifest religion through religious clothing. These restrictions also violate Sri Lanka’s own Constitution, which protects freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination. The government’s justifications citing national security are disproportionate and do not meet the strict necessity standards required under international law. Such justifications have been widely criticized as a cover for Islamophobia and state-sanctioned religious intolerance.

This is not an isolated incident. Discriminatory dress regulations in Sri Lanka are not new. In 2024, 70 Muslim girls in Trincomalee had their A-Level exam results withheld due to their hijabs. The constant uncertainty places Muslim women in an unfair position, forcing them to fight the same battles institution by institution against rising anti-Muslim sentiment.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has previously warned that Sri Lanka must break free from decades of violence, impunity and division, calling for an end to discrimination and the divisive politics that have plagued the country for generations. His September 2025 report to the Human Rights Council remains pertinent and underscores the urgent need to address systemic human rights violations and the rise of Islamophobia.

“These are not abstract legal debates,” added Imam Saffet Catovic, Director of U.N. Operations for Justice For All. “They are about the lived reality of Muslim women being marginalized by institutional Islamophobia. Sri Lanka’s international obligations require it to uphold the rights of all its citizens.”

Justice For All urges the Government of Sri Lanka to establish a clear, nationally applicable policy that recognizes the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab in the public service, ensures security and professional requirements do not restrict religious freedom, and provides consistent guidance across all institutions.

Contact: Imam Saffet Catovic, Director of U.N. Operations

Email: saffet@justiceforall.org.  Phone: 202-908-JUST

Website: https://www.justiceforall.org

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