Meet Fatima Isaacs, the Muslim army major who led a three-year battle for Hijab on South African military uniform

In Nigeria, there was Barrister Firdaus Amasa, the University of Ilorin Law graduate who fought for the use of Hijab at the Nigerian Law School, especially during the call to bar ceremony.

Right now, another hero of Hijab has emerged in South Africa and her name is Major Fatima Isaacs.

Coincidentally, the news is coming up at a time the world is about to commemorate the 2021 World Hijab Day, with the theme, #EndHijabophobia.

Fatima Isaacs is a Major in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). She works as a clinical forensic pathologist at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg and has been a member of the force for the past 10 years.

Muslim News learnt that the travails of Major Fatima Isaacs with the SANDF began in June 2018 when she was criminally charged with “wilful defiance and failing to obey lawful instructions after her superior asked her to remove her headscarf when in uniform.”

Multiple South African media reported that in January 2020, a military court at the Castle of Good Hope near Cape Town withdrew all charges against Major Isaacs, allowing her to exceptionally wear a tight black headwrap on duty as long as it did not cover her ears.

But the military did not amend its dress policy, prompting Isaacs to mount a challenge in South Africa’s equality court over regulations restricting religious wear.

The South African Defence Force (SANDF) eventually agreed to amend its policy during the week and allow all Muslim women to cover their heads while on duty.

“The SANDF dress regulation was updated to allow the wearing of headscarves by Muslim (women) according to stipulations in the dress regulations,” spokesman Mafi Mgobozi told AFP via WhatsApp on Thursday.

Congratulations to the South African Muslim ladies for this feat. May Allah bless Major Fatima Isaacs. Ameen

— With additional information from wionews

Sponsored