The Scapegoating of Muslim Women

The Guardian recently reported that over half of Islamophobic attacks have been directed at women. The article claims that those Muslim women who choose to wear religious attire are more noticeably Muslim to attackers than Muslim men. The murder of Saudi Arabian student Nahid AlManea has not only evoked anger within the Muslim community but some fear amongst Muslim women who feel they are unable to go to certain areas due to the unwarranted abuse which may come with wearing a hijab and/or abaya/burqa etc. 

So why are Muslim women more likely to be victims of Islamophobia than men? I understand they're more evidently Muslim than Muslim men who may simply have a beard suggesting religiousness or hipster-ness but why attack her for it?

Many refuse to believe that we not oppressed! And for EVERY cause or campaign there MUST always be a token girl or guy. The one person that comes out and says "I was oppressed when I was a Muslim and I wasn't allowed to learn how to spell the word 'freedom'...Well look at me now mum and dad F-R-E-E-D-O-M!!!"

Oh how certain media outlets would love that, the Daily Mail Online would probably crash with excitement and the comment section with overflow with words of support and slight suspicion and the occasional "this is not news worthy". A story to pay their mortgage for the next three years.

Youtube, the Daily Mail and various other media outlets and social networking sites are filled with the desperation of many non-Muslims for the Muslim community to 'speak out' against various incidents and issues such as the behaviours of Middle-Eastern politicians, Lutfur Rahman, halal meat, Trojan horse birmingham etc but no matter how much Muslims speak out, which they do as Twitter and Facebook are the most principle sites for online mobilisation. Islamophobes will only hear what they choose to hear or what the Daily Mail chooses to publish. I do not expect for the average Essex resident to continuously reassure me that they are not affiliated with the BNP. Mainly because there is no fear in my heart for such organisations and the other reason is that they are not obliged to do anything to make me feel better about myself. And vice versa. 

Muslim women, their attire combined with the urge of many for Muslims in general to continuously speak out and defend ourselves and justify ourselves and eternally beg the media to not see us as bad people might make them seem like bystanders. We're not bystanders, we simply stand strong in our beliefs. 

Let me tell you one thing, the terrible murder of Nahid AlManea will not discourage Muslim women from wearing the Hijab/Burqa and that is for sure. 

Guardian article http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/28/women-targeted-attacks-muslims

That is all from me...