Hijab halts Farzana Rahiman's firearm licence application

Farzana Rahiman, a 44-year-old social worker from Cape Town, faced a significant hurdle in her quest to legally obtain a firearm due to her decision to wear a hijab. The headscarf, worn by Muslim women, became a contentious issue during the application process with the South African Police Service (SAPS). Rahiman had spent over 15 years in provincial government and subsequently worked for an NGO focused on child protection, where she faced increasingly dangerous situations.

After two incidents involving hostage situations, she decided to apply for a firearm for self-defence. Despite her extensive experience with firearms due to her family background, the decision to own one was not trivial. She completed the required training and obtained certification in firearm control, handling, and shooting. To apply for the firearm license, Rahiman had to provide details about the firearm, her personal circumstances, crime statistics, and documentation related to her work, including a meeting on attacks on social workers.

During the application process, she learned that wearing a hijab in the application photograph could be an issue, leading her to seek approval from a moulana (Muslim religious leader) who had received similar requests. With the approval, her application was submitted, but it remained unresolved beyond the 120-day waiting period.

The issue arose when her photograph was rejected due to the hijab, despite showing her entire face without obstructions. Rahiman refused to compromise her identity by wearing a wig or using AI and instead submitted an affidavit to the SAPS national office, requesting a written explanation for the red cross next to her photograph and the delay in her application. The matter has now become a question of religious freedom and equal treatment.