UK Home Office Provides 1,000 Hijabs to Channel Migrants
The UK Home Office distributed over 1,000 hijabs to small-boat migrants, sparking criticism from Conservative Party members over the use of taxpayer funds.
The United Kingdom Home Office provided more than 1,000 hijabs to migrants arriving via small boats in the English Channel this year. Internal government figures show 974 hijabs were distributed between January and June, with the total expected to reach 1,500 by the end of the year.
The Home Office defended the distribution as part of its legal duty to provide basic clothing and cultural items under the Short-term Holding Facility Rules. The department stated that these items are part of standard welfare arrangements for all arrivals who require basic dry clothing packs.
The disclosure drew sharp criticism from the Conservative Party. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the use of taxpayer funds for religious items as an insult to British taxpayers, while Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott characterized the headwear as an instrument of female suppression.
This political dispute occurs as over 19,000 small-boat crossings were attempted this year. Despite the high volume, the Home Office reported that arrivals during the summer reached their lowest level since 2020.
