[size=18]First Hijab-clad Presenter on Danish TV[/size][i]By Nidal Abu Arif, IOL Correspondent[/i]
COPENHAGEN, March 31, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – The first hijab-clad talk show presenter has appeared on the Danish television to discuss Danish society's pressing issues topped by the cartoons that lampooned Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
"I'm seeking to project a good image about hijab-clad Muslim women in Denmark," Asmaa Abdol-Hamid told IslamOnline.net Friday, March 31.
Asmaa, 24, appeared for the first time on the small screen on Wednesday, March 29.
She has been selected to co-present a talk show with Danish reporter Adam Holm.
"It has been a bold move from the Danish television and a step in the right direction," she said.
Denmark has been the focus of Muslim anger following the publication of THE offensive cartoons by mass-circulation Jyallands Posten last September.
The 12 cartoons, including one showing the Prophet with a bomb-shaped turban, were later reprinted by European newspapers on claims of freedom of expression.
[b]Proud Muslim[/b]
The young lady has grown up in Denmark since she was six years old.
"I'm proud to be a Danish Muslim of Palestinian origin," said Asmaa, who is doing an MA in sociology.
"My family has supported me and gave me full freedom of choice," she added.
Asmaa has been singled out of four other competitors for the TV program.
"I was the only hijab-clad woman among the candidates," she noted.
"It is now my responsibility to present the true image of Islam as an ambassadress of the Muslim faith."
Asmaa rejected that she was chosen for hijab or as a gesture of goodwill from the Danish government to the Muslim world.
"I have the necessary qualifications for the job as a fluent Danish speaker and a confident presenter and interviewer," she explained.
[b]Love/Hate Mails[/b]
Asmaa believes that her hijab will be the talk of the audience at the very beginning.
"But I'm confident that with the passage of time they would come to realize my distinct personality and presentation."
She said that she had received love and hate e-mails from Danish viewers.
"Some e-mails were critical and offensive; but I was never provoked and dealt with them in accordance with our Islamic teachings, trying to explain my viewpoints to the senders."
She hopes that her program will appeal to the Muslim minority in the country, urging Danish Muslims to participate and integrate into society.
"This would help Muslims become part and parcel of Danish society," she said.
Muslims make up around three percent of Denmark’s 5.3 population, making Islam the second largest religion after the Lutheran Protestant Church.
Islam, however, is not recognized by the state unlike Christianity and Judaism.
[url=http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-03/31/article02.shtml]Islam...
Way to go!
thats ace!!
hope more muslim women presenters take a page out of her book.
smile and be happy!!!
Doesn't this kind of contradict the purpose of hijab though?
How does it contradict it?
I think its great - Muslims getting more active equals more dawah!
wearing a hijab does not mean you are not allowed to express your opinions.
I can se where Salaf is coming from though. A part oifthe hijab is not to be stared at... and then going on national TV...
But IMO this is just like walking down the street in hijab. people will still see you. Women are not suppose to be locked away.
This could turn into a good thing. Someone wearing the hijab who has a strong opinion on matters, and is fluent in speech. It could be an eye opener for non-muslims.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
true true
if the arguement that women are not meant to be stared at is used all the time in cases such as this then it would resolve to women being shut in the house 24/7 and i agree with Admin it is the same as walking down the street people will stare at you etc nobody objects to half-dressed women parading on the telly and when a hijabi fully covered Muslima does she IMO should not be criticised but rather encouraged as these type of acts consequently give the positive name to Islam that it deserves.
totally agree
Don't you?
(I think she meant noone kicks up a fuss - we are all used to it.)
I saw white mans burden a few weeks ago. That was basically a role reversal for blacks and whites in America... (putting it crudely)
The bit that opened my mind was when the TV was turned on, and most o the people on it were black. noone notices if they are white..., but that scene made me think how much we take the atatus quo for granted.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
in what way?
is hijaab only considered a hijaab if its worn behind the brick walls in a ones home?
I think it contradicts hijab. However if muslim brothers really care about not gazing upon women "uncessarily" then they really shouldn't be watching TV at all. Coz it's full of women both dressed, semi dressed and even hijabed. Either way it's not lawful for you men to look upon them is it? Don't tell me the programme was 1 hour longer and you considered it your lawful first long glance as opposed to the unlawful second glance lool.
Seeing muslim women outside with hijab on doesn't justify watching them on tv does it. Coz the former is something you can't avoid, the latter is something you obviously can avoid. You boys are trying to pull fast ones today :roll:
Bottom line if you're watching other women on tv and obviously have no bones to pick with them then quit harking on about a woman with headress on, after all she's just another woman you're watching on tv right.
its becoming more clear why u dont see muslim women on TV