From New York Daily News
A New Jersey woman said she felt threatened after a mall security guard approached her and told her to take off her niqab, a traditional face veil worn by some Muslim women.
A woman shopping at a New Jersey mall said Saturday that she was shocked when a security guard told her to take off her niqab, the traditional face veil worn by some Muslim women.
Wakeelah Salaam, born in the U.S. and raised Muslim, told WABC Ch. 7 Eyewitness News she felt threatened after the same guard at Bridgewater Commons mall approached her twice.
“He said, Maam, Im telling you, you cannot wear that mask in here,” Salaam told ABC. Salaam said she felt so uncomfortable she eventually called the police. After speaking to police, she left the mall.
“He came as close to me as though he was going to kiss me,” she said. And then he made the hand gesture like he was going to lift it up for me.
Salaam regularly wears a face covering, a hijab, or headscarf, and a long dress in public, leaving only her eyes exposed, the ABC reported
Some women choose to wear the scarf so men don’t judge them by their appearance.
“This is a protection for me,” Salaam told ABC. “This is my honor.”
She said shes worn the niqab to court and to visit a relative in prison without complaint, so was surprised by the security guards actions.
