By Dr Hina J. Shahid | Chair, Muslim Doctors Association
It’s disappointing - but not surprising - to see the debate around banning the burqa resurface in British politics. Every few years, we seem to be caught in this cycle, where the clothing choices of a small minority of Muslim women are thrust into the national spotlight by people who neither wear the burqa nor meaningfully engage with those who do. It’s always framed as “liberation,” yet rarely includes the voices of Muslim women themselves.
But here’s the reality that gets buried beneath these headlines: while politicians argue about fabric, they remain silent about the real, urgent issues Muslim women face in the UK—especially in healthcare.
As Chair of the Muslim Doctors Association, I’ve seen firsthand how Islamophobia doesn’t just exist in political speeches—it exists in the corridors of GP surgeries, hospitals, and policy rooms. Muslim women are disproportionately affected by health inequalities. NHS data repeatedly shows lower uptake of cervical and breast cancer screening in Muslim populations. Why? Because modesty concerns, lack of culturally sensitive staff, and unconscious bias all contribute to real health risks.
The focus on banning religious clothing is not about women’s rights—it’s about control. If those in power genuinely cared about Muslim women’s wellbeing, they would be addressing the fact that we are more likely to live in areas of deprivation, face mental health disparities due to racism and Islamophobia, and experience poorer maternity outcomes. These are not opinions—they are established, evidence-based facts.
Take, for example, the disproportionate maternal mortality rates among ethnic minority women. Muslim women, particularly those from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, face some of the highest risks. Are we having urgent parliamentary debates about improving antenatal care or tackling racial disparities in maternity wards? No. But we have time for the burqa debate.
Meanwhile, Islamophobia continues to escalate in everyday life. Muslim women—visibly Muslim women—bear the brunt of public harassment and exclusion. Just last year, we saw spikes in hate crimes during periods of global conflict, leading to some women avoiding public transport or social events entirely. And now, we risk fuelling that further by politicising their clothing choices.
At MDA, we are doing what politicians should be doing: focusing on solutions. We work with NHS bodies to provide cultural safety training, helping staff understand the real-life experiences of Muslim patients and tackle unconscious bias. We run outreach projects that help women navigate the healthcare system, speak up for their needs, and access life-saving services like cancer screening and mental health support.
So let’s be clear: the liberation of Muslim women will not come from dress codes imposed by Westminster. It will come from tackling the social inequalities that impact their health and wellbeing. It will come from addressing racism in healthcare. It will come from amplifying their voices—not silencing or legislating them out of public life.
If we truly care about women’s freedom and dignity, the burqa isn’t the issue. The system is. Let’s focus on fixing that.
Let’s change the conversation—from clothing to care.
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