General Practitioner proud to wear hijab on television despite racism in UK

Appointed Deputy Lieutenant, Dr. Nighat Arif confronts racism post-Countdown, advocating for hijab representation on TV

Dr. Nighat Arif, a general practitioner (GP) and a recently appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, stands resilient as a proud “woman of color with a hijab” in the face of racism encountered after her appearance on Channel 4’s Countdown.

Dr. Arif has become a familiar face on television since the pandemic, regularly appearing on BBC and ITV programs, specializing in women’s health issues.

Despite her significant achievements, including an appointment by Elizabeth Curzon, Countess Howe, as Deputy Lieutenant and her prominent role in healthcare, Dr. Arif faced racist abuse following her appearance on the show.

She openly shared her experiences, emphasizing the resilience she maintained amid such challenges.

“It was mostly just vitriol of what I look like. ‘Why is she wearing a hijab? What is that thing on her head?’ All I did was sit in the dictionary corner and share stories from my childhood,” she added.

This incident pointed to the lingering issues of racism, misogyny and Islamophobia in certain segments of society.

Dr. Arif has been at the forefront of addressing these challenges, choosing to tackle them directly. She recognized the importance of her role in the media as one of the few hijab-wearing women on British television, alongside figures like Nadia from Bake Off.

The support Dr. Arif received from the Countdown team was heartening, and she likens her co-stars to a family for their “lovely” support.

Source: Newsroom