Canadian medical journal to retract letter calling hijabs ’an instrument of oppression’

Kirsten Patrick's announcement comes days after she posted on Twitter, apologizing for the letter, which called the religious head scarf an instrument of oppression.

I sincerely apologize on behalf of the CMAJ for my error in publishing the letter, Patrick said in a statement (new window) on Thursday. "I take full responsibility for the inadequacy of editorial process."

The letter in question (new window), written by pediatric surgeon Dr. Sherif Emil and published on Monday, argued that a recent CMAJ cover that featured a young girl in a hijab was misguided, and that it perpetuated an often traumatic and harmful practice.

• Quebec politicians divided, federal MPs outraged after teacher removed for wearing hijab (new window)

• Q&AAfter attacks, Edmonton blogger asks: Why is my hijab still a threat? (new window)

Many of my trainees, colleagues and patients' parents (and some adolescent patients) wear the hijab … I respect each woman I interact with, as well as any woman's choice to express her identity as she desires, wrote Emil. 

But respect does not alter the fact that the hijab, the niqab and the burka are also instruments of oppression for millions of girls and women around the world who are not allowed to make a choice.

Emil goes on to cite the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and their many reported abuses toward women and girls as examples.

So many women have been traumatized by such an upbringing, which, I believe, frankly borders on child abuse.

'Harmful stereotypes'

The letter drew immediate pushback, with many, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), calling the letter Islamaphobic.

This article falls short of the Canadian Medical Association's Code of Ethics and Professionalism standards and contributes to dangerously harmful stereotypes about a demographic that has been targeted by some of the most violent forms of Islamophobia in this country, said the NCCM.

WATCH | Muslim women on the fear they experience daily in Canada: 

Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ?

Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ?

Huda Idrees, founder of Dot Health (new window), also said on Twitter that the letter fell short of the CMAJ's standards.

It's one thing for people to have dangerous xenophobic views that equate women's clothing to extremism. It's another for a publication like @CMAJ to run it, said Idrees.

In earlier tweets, Patrick acknowledged the Islamophobia concerns and the publication's editorial failings.

Islamophobia is a serious health issue. It kills, she tweeted,

• FIRST PERSONI'm an athlete, and I happen to wear a hijab. Get over it (new window)

• National Council of Canadian Muslims reveals anti-Islamophobia recommendations (new window)

The letter's title suggests that the hijab is unequivocally an instrument of oppression; that is wrong, hurtful & offensive. I take full responsibility for the headline. As an editor I know the power of words & that is my error.

CBC News