Five years after derogatory remarks directed at a Muslim advocate during a Constitutional Court hearing sparked national debate about prejudice against visibly Muslim women, professionals who wear the niqab say their experiences in South Africa’s workplaces tell a different story — one of growing acceptance, professional success and unwavering faith.
The issue came into sharp focus in August 2021 during a Constitutional Court hearing on the legal recognition of Muslim marriages. Before Advocate Nazreen Bawa presented arguments before the country’s highest court, another participant’s microphone remained unmuted, capturing remarks describing her as “dressed like a ninja” and questioning whether she was “putting on an act”.
The comments sparked widespread condemnation. The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) described the remarks as hateful and supported the Women’s Legal Centre’s position that they undermined Bawa’s professionalism while mocking Muslim women who choose to dress in accordance with their religious beliefs. The incident also prompted calls for the Legal Practice Council to investigate the conduct.
Although the controversy exposed the stereotypes that some visibly Muslim women continue to encounter, professionals interviewed by One Nation Media say their day-to-day experiences suggest attitudes have become increasingly positive.
Among them is Leena Akbar, chief executive officer of ECA Consulting, an environmental consultancy that has completed more than 100 environmentally authorised projects. Akbar holds a master’s degree in environmental science and has spent almost two decades working with government departments, state-owned entities and major private-sector clients.
After performing Hajj with her husband in 2024, she chose to begin wearing the niqab — a decision she describes as a natural progression in her faith rather than a professional gamble.
Far from limiting her career, Akbar says the niqab has strengthened her confidence and reinforced what truly matters in the workplace.
“The niqab can cover my face, but it doesn’t cover my qualifications.”
Since embracing the niqab, she has continued presenting at conferences, leading environmental projects and engaging with clients from diverse backgrounds. While colleagues and clients were initially curious, she says those conversations quickly became opportunities to explain the significance of her decision rather than obstacles to her career.
Akbar believes South Africa’s multicultural society has created an environment in which Muslim women are increasingly respected for their expertise rather than judged by their appearance. Although certain aspects of environmental fieldwork may require practical adjustments, she says these situations have never affected her professional growth or ability to lead.
For Akbar, the niqab is neither cultural nor political — it is an act of worship. “Whether or not it’s compulsory, it is an act of worship.”
She says wearing it is about placing Allah before worldly expectations and remaining true to her beliefs in every aspect of her life.
Researcher and political analyst Fazlin Taliep Fransman believes discussions surrounding the niqab often overlook the deeply personal reasons women choose to wear it.
She says the decision begins with faith.
“As Muslims, we firstly submit to Allah’s will and to what Allah prescribes for us. I’m not saying that the niqab is prescribed, but for me, it is an act of devotion. It is something I want to do from a deeply spiritual perspective.”
Fransman also challenges the perception that the niqab is incompatible with women’s empowerment. Instead, she argues that choosing to cover can be an expression of autonomy in a society that increasingly measures women by their appearance.
“We live in a society where women are hypersexualised — not by themselves, but by industry, society and the way the media is orientated.”
She added that wearing the niqab is, for her, a conscious rejection of those pressures.
“I feel like it is the most feminist thing to say: I am taking that back. I choose not to be part of that culture.”
Their experiences stand in stark contrast to the assumptions exposed during the 2021 Constitutional Court controversy. While that incident demonstrated that prejudice has not disappeared entirely, both women believe the broader trajectory is one of increasing understanding and acceptance.
Akbar says visibly Muslim women have an opportunity to challenge stereotypes not through debate, but through professionalism, integrity and excellence in their chosen fields.
She also encourages young Muslim women not to allow concerns about wearing the hijab or niqab to influence their educational or career aspirations.
“When Allah has decreed something for you, nothing will stand in your way.”
Five years after one of South Africa’s most public controversies involving a visibly Muslim professional, women such as Akbar and Fransman say the conversation is gradually shifting.
Rather than questioning whether faith and professional success can coexist, they hope their experiences demonstrate that religious conviction, leadership and career excellence are not competing identities, but complementary ones.
