Possessing Photos of a Muslim Woman Without Her Hijab Should be Made a Criminal Offence, MPs Say

A UK parliamentary committee has proposed making it a criminal offense to possess photos of a Muslim woman without her hijab, if taken without her consent. The Commons’ women and equalities committee argues these images should be treated as “non-consensual intimate images,” similar to child sex abuse material.

The proposal aims to expand the current legal definition of “intimate images” to include those considered “culturally intimate,” such as a Muslim woman without her religious headscarf. The committee argues that such images can cause significant harm to the victim.

Critics express concerns that this proposal could grant special legal protections to Islam not afforded to other religions, and that it risks overextending criminal law into cultural issues. They also question the practicality of policing such a law. The government has acknowledged previous reservations about defining “culturally intimate” images due to potential overcriminalization. The committee, however, argues that possessing these images should be criminalized to provide victims with adequate legal protection.