Protesters reject depiction of terrorists at SOFEX

AMMAN – Around 60 women gathered outside the Prime Ministry on Wednesday to protest against the depiction of terrorists in a drill at the Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) 2014 last week. 

In a military exercise conducted by the Jordan Armed Forces at SOFEX, terrorists were depicted as women wearing headscarves (hijab) and bearded men.

Participants at Wednesday's demonstration, organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, held banners expressing their support for hijab, while one woman addressed the protesters, expressing her anger over the incident.

Dima Tahboub said participants want to send a message that hijab does not illustrate terrorism.  

"This act humiliates Jordanian society, since a great number of women wear hijab," the member of the movement's women’s division told The Jordan Times during the protest.

She noted that SOFEX organisers must apologise because this act will further link Islam with terrorism. 

Um Hamzah, another participant, said organisers must show the "true, bright image" of Islam rather than use hijab as a way to represent terrorism. 

"Muslims are kind and they do not harm other people," she added. 

Jamilah Ayoub, another protester, voiced concern that what happened at SOFEX might discourage young girls from wearing hijab.