Statement of solidarity with Refugees and Gary Lineker
As football fans and the proud daughters of refugees and migrants, we stand in solidarity
with all people labelled as such, who are being scapegoated and demonised in a dangerous
and despicable political game. We stand in solidarity with Gary Lineker and everyone who
choses to amplify the values of compassion, kindness, love and stand up for the humanity of
all people.
TheThree Hijabis roared to life following the shameful racism directed at our proudly
unapologetic anti-racist England men’s team and the targeting of Rashford, Sancho, Saka,
at the Euro2020 Final. We launched our viral petition and award winning campaign in the
summer of 2021 to reclaim the narrative from racists. We galvanised over 1.2 million people
to back our call for racists to be banned from football for life and led a national conversation
of hope on tackling racism and hate in football and society.
Two years on, we are seeing refugees and migrants, most of whom are people of colour,
being demonised and used as a political football to deflect and distract from the economic
and political crises created by the government. The dehumanising language being used by
those in power is designed to divide people and communities struggling under the cost of
living crisis and the collapse of our public services.
This has to stop.
By censoring and scapegoating Gary Lineker and all of us who defend the human rights of
refugees and believe in creating a compassionate nation, the people in power are showing
once again how out of step they are.
We believe in solidarity, decency and hope.
The Three Hijabis show what is possible when we come together and stand up for each
other. It’s only through love, kindness and compassion that we will build communities of
hope.
#Istandwithgary #RefugeesWelcome
www.threehijabis.com
For Press Enquiries: the3hijabis@gmail.com
twitter:@THijabis
Support our work
We have set up a Go Fund Me page to support the work we are doing as a coalition to tackle misogyny and violence against women associated to the game.
Qatar World Cup: Stop sportswashing. Tackle misogyny and violence against women and girls in football
As the World Cup kicks off in Qatar alongside the UN’s 16 Days of Activism to tackle gender-based violence, The Three Hijabis and the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) are urgently calling on football to tackle misogyny and gender-based violence in the sport.
The campaigners are again asking the men who run football: “Whose side are you on?” saying “football must not be used to sports-wash violence against women and girls, exploitation of migrant workers, homophobia, Islamophobia and all forms of racism."
In August this year, the feminist groups, and activists, successfully campaigned to change Premier League Policy on implementing mandatory consent and gender-based violence training across all Premier League clubs and for all staff.
The Qatar World Cup is rightly being used as a backdrop to protest and resistance to the many ways in which women and girls are harmed within football. It is by shining a bright light on the ugly side of the beautiful game that we can harness the power of football fans to hold those with power in football accountable. Football must be a truly safe space for all women and girls.
The campaigners are also calling on FIFA (International Federation of Association Football),
The Football Association (FA), Wales and the England football teams to show solidarity and amplify the voices of Iranian women leading the countrywide protests against patriarchal control and the stifling of freedom of expression for all.
England will play Iran on November 21st in the group qualifying stage of the World Cup.
Nationwide protests started in Iran in September following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while she was detained in police custody after she was arrested by Iran’s notorious morality police for “not wearing the correct hijab”.
Mahsa Amini has become a potent symbol of women’s resistance against misogyny and gendered violence in Iran. Since then, more women have lost their lives (25 women and 43 children according to human rights group HRANA) to gendered state violence, activists have been sexually harassed and arrested and journalists have been detained. In the latest terrifying development, the Iranian state has reportedly issued its first death sentence to a protestor. It is estimated over 10-14 thousand protesters are now languishing in prison for participating in nationwide demonstrations.
Commenting on this The Three Hijabis said:
“We salute the bravery of our sisters in Iran standing up for their right to live freely without patriarchal control and the weaponisation of religion to police their bodies and choices.”
“This World Cup cannot and must not ignore violence against women and girls and gender-based violence inside and outside of football.
Our England and Wales teams and players have a duty to use their profile and platform to amplify the voices of women in Iran and support the players and staff in the Iranian national team who hold these same values.The England team has demonstrated its commitment to standing up to racism and homophobia. The Qatar World Cup is another vital moment for football to commit itself to taking the necessary action to stand up to all forms of gender-based violence and violence against women and girls in football.”
End Violence Against Women Coalition Director Andrea Simon added:
“The world cup should be a time of celebration. But as our football campaign has shown the beautiful game has an ugly underside when it comes to violence against women. The lead up to the Qatar World Cup has laid bare how this ugly side is riddled with many intersecting systems of oppression and harm – providing an opportunity for us to come together and show solidarity in our shared fight for a society and game free from abuse. And with the upcoming England vs Iran game, we stand side by side with our sisters, The Three Hijabis, and their calls for solidarity with the women of Iran and their fight for freedom”.
Go Fund Me have selected The Three Hijabs as one of the organisation’s it will spotlight during the World Cup and are supporting the The Three Hijabis work on tackling violence against women and girls and gendered Islamophobia in football.
Further details and to donate to support us to support our work:
The Three Hijabis Go Fund Me Page
Notes to Editors:
To book an interview with The Three Hijabis contact: the3hijabis@gmail.com
Twitter: @THijabis
CAMPAIGN WIN!!!
Thanks to our campaign with Level Up and EVAW, last week it was announced that, all Premier League players and staff now have to undergo mandatory sexual consent training.
Telegraph Exclusive: All Premier League players to receive mandatory sexual consent training
This is a huge campaign win, and responds to one of the four campaign asks we put into our open letter back in February.
Our work has focused on fighting racism, misogyny & gender based violence in sport for over a year.
This campaign win has been reported on widely. You can read more here:
Our Lionesses are European Champions!
Yesterday we witnessed history happen. For the first time since 1966, England has won a major championship, and it’s the England women’s team who achieved it. Crowning them the European Champions of 2022 as they won 2-1 to Germany.
What the lionesses have achieved is truly remarkable and wonderful and it has put the spotlight firmly on women and girls football in this country. We’ve been campaigning to end gender based violence in football and also tackle racism. Shaista Aziz says, ‘I was very happy to see Nikita Parris come on as a substitute at the final. She was England’s only Black player in the squad for the final. There has been a glaring lack of racial representation and diversity in the Lionesses's Euro 2022 squad contrasting deeply with the French team where out of 23 members of the squad, 15 are Black women and or women of colour. For everytime we are reminded that the Lionesses are role models for girls and women and many boys, men and non binary people, which they absolutely are, we should also question the lack of racialised talent coming through grassroots football in England and work on identifying the barriers and culture preventing girls and women of colour of reaching their potential.’
‘There is a lack of racial diversity and representation across grassroots football and all ranks of the sport, from coaching staff to referees, lines woman and players, to those working for footballs governing bodies and responsible for growing the game so it’s truly inclusive and accessible for all.
We know representation matters and it very much matters for women and girls of colour too. I have never seen as much diversity at Wembley for a England football match, I met many Black girls, women and women and girls of colour, including Muslim women wearing hijab. There is no doubt in my mind the Lionesses winning the European Championships is the very start of what girls and women playing football can achieve. We must all ensure that this is a legacy for all women and girls.’
Lack of diversity in England’s Lionesses ‘really sad’ and needs addressing, says ex-Chelsea star
The Legacy of the Women’s Euros 2022 must be tackling misogyny in football
Women’s Euros 2022 legacy should be on football tackling misogyny and gender-based violence at all levels of the game, says a coalition of feminist campaigners and Violence Against Women and Girl’s (VAWG) experts.
The call comes on the same day as yet another Premier League player is arrested on suspicion of rape.
The Three Hijabis, Level Up and the End Violence Against Women Coalition have been campaigning since the start of the year calling on the Premier League and the Football Association (FA) to urgently fund, develop, and implement a gender-based violence programme across football delivered by VAWG specialists.
Now the group are calling on the Premier League and the FA to show its commitment to tackle gender-based violence by announcing ring fenced funding and a timeline for action to coincide with the kick off of the Women’s Euros this week.
The group says this would be “a fitting legacy showing football is serious about tackling misogyny and gender-based violence across the game and wider society. Football has the power to force transformative change. It has a responsibility to act. We urge the Premier League and the Football Association to not waste this huge moment in history and instead to lead from the front. We need systemic change across football and society to tackle misogyny and gender-based violence. The Women’s Euros offers this opportunity.”
The groups’ petition demanding action has secured support from fans, the public, individuals involved in sports and MPs.
In February, the group wrote an open letter to the Premier League demanding they take action on gender-based violence in football.
Following this intervention, the Premier League invited the group to a “Listening Day” at the Premier League Head Quarters on 27 June 2022 to discuss a gender-based violence policy.
As outlined in the open letter, The Three Hijabis, Level Up and End Violence Against Women coalition demanded implementation of the following:
Mandatory gender-based violence training for all players, managers, coaches and owners at clubs and academies
Clear sexual misconduct policies and protocols with the power to impose appropriate consequences and disciplinary action on players
The introduction of a Tackling Gender-Based Violence Charter signed by all clubs
Academies to introduce prevention programmes for young people that take a “Whole Club Approach”
In a statement online, the group said: “The listening day was encouraging, but one day will not transform the deeply entrenched power, violence and impunity within football. We know this work will take time.”
“We hope the Listening Day is the beginning of a deep, authentic and transformative process which culminates in the implementation of the above policies.”
“This is also a valuable opportunity for The FA, who are still yet to engage with our coalition, to follow the Premier League’s lead and begin its own internal work to tackle gender-based violence in football.”
“We know fans of football want to see a change, so it’s vital that both organisations use this chance to lead in transforming the harmful culture that, without conscious disruption, they will maintain.”
“What better legacy for the 2022 Women’s Euros than a meaningful public commitment to ending gender-based violence from both the Premier League and The FA.”
Media contacts
Sinead Geoghegan, the End Violence Against Women Coalition: sinead.geoghegan@evaw.org.uk 07960 744 502
Janey Starling / Seyi Falodun-Liburd, Level Up: Media@welevelup.org
Amna Abdullatif, Shaista Aziz and Huda Jawad, The Three Hijabis: the3hijabis@gmail.com
Left Field Glastonbury
Our co-director Shaista Aziz was invited as a guest speaker at Glastonbury’s LeftField to debate State of the Nation: politics in crisis, alongside Andy Burnham, Mete Coban and Francis Foley.
She writes:
We are living through extremely exhausting, frightening, cruel, disconnected and fragile times. We are also living through a time of GREAT energy, compassion, resistance, ideas, creativity and acceptance. We need to make sure we WIN all these fights for the sake of people, species, and our planet. We have the fight of our lives on our hands!
The status quo is shaking. Hard.
Music, the arts and culture has always been at the forefront of resistance and change, you can’t separate one from the other, you can’t untangle love, resistance, justice and hope.
She talked about the activism and anti-racism solidarity generated by the Three Hijabis and the vision of collective hope and action through the campaign.
The Three Hijabi’s shortlisted in The National Diversity Awards 2022!
A recording breaking 72,000 people nominated this year alone and the results are finally in for the National Diversity Awards (NDA), with an astonishing 126 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.
Community organisations and role models from across the UK will head to the breathtaking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral once again on 16th September 2022 for the 11th annual National Diversity Awards.
Amongst those being honoured are charities, campaigners and activists from all walks of life, but who will be named the best of British diversity?
Direct Line Group, Kantar and The British Army have recently been announced as sponsors of the pioneering awards that have paid tribute to over 1,100 grass root groups and diversity champions since its inception. ITV News are also listed amongst a host of companies showcasing their support to recognising diverse talent, providing a platform to our unsung heroes.
Designed to highlight the country's most inspirational and selfless people, the NDA's continue to gain endorsements from high profile figures such as Sir Lenny Henry CBE and Graham Norton. Activist Katie Piper, Emmerdale star Ash Palmisciano and Paralympic Gold Medallist Danny Crates were on this year’s judging panel, dedicating their time to help choose the highly anticipated shortlist.
Shortlisted Community Organisation Race, Faith, Religion:
GIN UK, The Three Hijabis, Ramadan Tent Project, Himaya Haven CIC, Operation Black Vote, Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum, Intermission Youth Theatre, Medway Culture Club
Winners will be announced at The National Diversity Awards 2022 on September 16th.
About us:
The Three Hijabis came to life after the final penalty kick in Euro 2020 through a viral petition to ban racists from football, that reached over 1 million people in just 48 hours and created a watershed moment that centred the conversation around people of colour and race within sport.
We have created a multiracial platform tackling racism in football, sport and wider society.
Our focus is make football and sport inclusive and safe for everyone and use it as a vehicle for anti racist action and social justice.
Alongside this we understand the way in which systems of oppression overlap and the need to be committed to tackling gender based violence within the game.
As three women with vast experience in the violence against women and girls sector we apply our understanding and expertise of race and gender to tackling these issues.
Find out more about us here: The Three Hijabis
Premier League Listening Day
The Three Hijabis, Level Up, and End Violence Against Women and Girls Coallition (EVAW), wrote an open letter to the Premier League and the Football Association calling on both to take action against gender based violence in football.
On the back of the letter, we were invited alongside a number of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) specialists, to participate in a listening day at the Premier League HQ, to discuss how we see action on the issue of gender based violence in the game.
With the Women’s Euros kicking off next week it seems only fitting to see some commitments from footballs biggest influencers, the Premier League and the Football Association to tackle this issue.
We’re calling on football to ensure the lasting legacy of the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament is rooted in tackling misogyny and gender based violence in the game.
Football belongs to everyone.
Premier League and FA: enforce a zero-tolerance policy on gender-based violence
An open letter directed at the CEO’s of the Premier League and the Football Association was shared by a coalition between The Three Hijabis, EVAW and Level Up.
Cases of football players suspected with sexual assault are repeatedly breaking in the press. It's time for the Premier League and Football Association to implement a gender-based violence policy that:
Takes an absolute stand against domestic violence, sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
Imposes mandatory, annual trainings to all players on gender-based violence including consent, violence and coercive control.
Appoints a commissioner to investigate and take action on cases where players are suspected of abuse.
Imposes appropriate consequences and disciplinary action on players.
Players who are suspected of gender-based violence must face consequences. In the US, Major Baseball League and NFL have publicly accessible policies, where players found guilty of domestic abuse, sexual violence or child abuse can be suspended without pay, or banned for life.
Right now, the Premier League does not have any policies, disciplinary procedures or investigation processes, for players who are accused of gender-based violence. The Premier League and the Football Association need to put a process in place that oversees all its clubs.
You can sign the petition here:
Press on the campaign include:
GG2 Awards WINNERS!
Earlier this year, on international women’s day, we were incredibly humbled to win the GG2 Diversity award for spirit in the community for our work as The Three Hijabis and our campaign calling on football to tackle racism in the beautiful game.
Every single person who signed and shared the petition last summer is part of this movement with us. Thank you.
We have been inspired by the positive response we have had from so many of you. That kindness and belief in us and the work we are doing is keeping us motivated to continue this fight to see change happen.
The Big Issue 100 changemakers
We started 2022 on a high with the brilliant The Big Issue naming us in this incredible list of 100 changemakers, working on social justice and tackling inequalities for our campaign to ban racists from football.
We’re incredibly humbled by their support for us and recognition for the work we have done.
Happy New Year
Our 3 Lions
January 1st 2022
What a year 2021 has been.
Ours was marked by our viral petition to ban racists from football, which not only got the government making commitments but it also generated wider conversations on racism, which we proudly did together.
We are committing to this work over 2022, and will be sharing more information soon. Not only looking back to everything that we achieved as a collective, but also what we will be doing moving forward.
For now, we wish you all a happy New Year!
In solidarity,
Shaista, Amna & Huda