A Muslim social worker has taken her complaint to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police after her firearm licence application was allegedly flagged because she wore a hijab in her application photograph, raising broader concerns over whether Muslim women face religious barriers within South Africa’s firearm licensing process.
Speaking to One Nation Media (ONM), Farzana Rahiman detailed what she described as a six-month ordeal that began with a routine firearm licence application and has since developed into a matter before Parliament.
Rahiman, a social worker with more than two decades of experience, said her decision to apply for a firearm licence was driven by necessity rather than choice.
Throughout her career, she has worked in communities affected by crime, gang violence and poverty, often removing children from unsafe environments.
“We were held hostage by a knife-wielding mom running around the premises. We had to lock ourselves in the office because we removed her child.”
She recalled another incident in which men allegedly affiliated with gangs arrived at her office following the removal of a child, while social workers under her supervision have also faced threats during home visits.
“There are two areas within our service delivery area that I don’t allow my social workers to enter simply because of the dangers they pose,” she told ONM.
Rahiman said dogs have been set on staff during visits, while a pregnant social worker was accosted while conducting fieldwork.
The dangers also extended beyond home visits.
“When I have meetings, we sometimes leave at half past six, when it’s already dark. It becomes dodgy after a certain time.”
A lengthy and costly application
Rahiman said she began preparing for the firearm licensing process in 2023, initially purchasing the required study material for approximately R1,750 before completing accredited firearm training covering firearm handling, legal competency and the Firearms Control Act.
She then submitted her competency application through the South African Police Service at a cost of R193.
Before applying for the licence itself, she purchased a firearm costing between R15,000 and R20,000, selecting one that would be suitable for everyday concealed carry.
“I needed to choose a firearm that was going to fit in my hand and be easy to conceal.”
As part of her motivation, Rahiman said she submitted detailed supporting documentation, including crime statistics, reasons for requiring a firearm for self-defence, parliamentary committee minutes relating to attacks on social workers in the Western Cape, and information about the firearm she had purchased.
However, she said a conversation with an official before lodging the application caught her completely off guard.
The official allegedly advised her to “just be careful with your scarf”.
Initially believing the comment was a joke, Rahiman said she soon realised it was not.
She was advised to obtain a letter from her local imam confirming that wearing the hijab is a religious obligation for Muslim women.
Rahiman approached Moulana CM Hendricks of her local mosque, who prepared a letter for inclusion in her application.
What surprised her most, however, was discovering that he had written similar letters for several other Muslim women.
“I was shocked when I heard that he had been required to write these letters for several other women.”
Confident that she had complied with every requirement, Rahiman submitted her firearm licence application on 26 February.
Six months without an answer
Rahiman said the prescribed licensing process is expected to take approximately 120 days, but months passed without any communication from the authorities.
Instead, she repeatedly contacted officials herself and attempted to track the progress of her application.
After eventually contacting the provincial office directly, she was informed that there was “an X mark next to your photo”.
Rahiman reminded officials that she had already submitted the supporting letter explaining why she wore the hijab.
She said she was then presented with alternatives that she found difficult to comprehend.
“Why don’t you wear a wig?”
She said another suggestion was to digitally alter her appearance using artificial intelligence.
“Why don’t you just let one of your daughters make an AI image?”
For Rahiman, the suggestions raised a far more significant concern than the delay itself.
“The more we spoke, the more I realised the absurdity of it.”
She questioned why a photograph of herself wearing a wig, or an AI-generated image, would allegedly be considered acceptable while an authentic photograph showing how she presents herself every day as a Muslim woman would not.
“If the purpose of the identification card is to identify the licence holder, then you should be able to see me as I appear every day.”
Rahiman pointed out that every other official identification document she possesses, including her passport, driver’s licence and identity document, shows her wearing the hijab.
“I’ll send you the photograph I submitted. I’ll also send you copies of my driver’s licence, passport and ID. All of them show me wearing my scarf.”
Looking beyond her own case
Rather than simply submitting another photograph, Rahiman began researching the legislation herself.
“I understand legislation. I understand how it works.”
She said she examined the Firearms Control Act and existing legal precedents but could find no provision prohibiting applicants from wearing a hijab.
“As far as the Firearms Control Act is concerned, the only things you are not allowed to wear are a hat and sunglasses, which I completely agree with because they can obscure facial recognition.”
Her research also uncovered a parliamentary media statement dating back to 2001 involving another Muslim woman whose firearm licence application had reportedly encountered a similar issue.
Rahiman subsequently contacted parliamentary officials before the matter was referred to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police.
Since speaking publicly, she said numerous Muslim women have contacted her to share similar experiences.
One close friend told Rahiman that she had removed her hijab entirely in order to complete the firearm licensing process.
Rahiman said comments posted on social media also suggested that other Muslim women had faced similar situations.
“The number of Muslim women who have been forced to remove their scarves just so they can complete the licensing process is ridiculous,” she told ONM.
She believes many women may simply comply because they lack the resources, confidence or knowledge required to challenge administrative decisions.
“Not everybody has access to resources. Not everybody has the knowledge or ability to use those resources.”
For Rahiman, the issue now extends far beyond her own application.
“My aim and my goal are definitely to change what these government departments are doing because it is unconstitutional.”
While she continues to await a formal written explanation for the objection to her application, Rahiman hopes her case will prompt answers to broader questions over whether Muslim women who wear the hijab are being subjected to administrative practices that unfairly interfere with their constitutional right to practise their religion.
