In recent years, the calls for banning the hijab and/or niqab has regularly been featured in UK mainstream media and political debates. However, the voices of Muslim women are often absent.

It is essential to prioritise and critically engage with the perspectives of Muslim women in discussions surrounding the banning, as their voices have been historically marginalised within public debates. This research is therefore motivated by the need to address the persistent lack of meaningful consultation with Muslim women, despite the policies in question directly shaping their lived experiences.

To address this gap, the study will draw on interviews and focus groups with Muslim women in the UK. These discussions will examine the multifaceted factors informing their decisions to veil, as well as the social and structural challenges that arise from these choices. The research will further explore participants’ assessments of policy arguments and their broader understandings of gender norms, expectations, and practices. In doing so, the project seeks to produce a more nuanced, empirically grounded account of Muslim women’s perspectives that has been largely absent from public discourse.

If you are interested in taking part, please complete the registration link - Research on Hijab/Niqab Bans – Fill in form or send an email to 2274998@swansea.ac.uk before 15th April 2026.