Mexico’s Supreme Court Allows Hijab in Official Document Photos

Mexico’s Supreme Court Allows Hijab in Official Document Photos
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Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled that Muslim women may wear the hijab in photographs used for official documents, recognizing the right to religious freedom and personal identity in administrative procedures.

According to Reuters Connect, the court approved the decision by a majority of eight votes to one, determining that there is no constitutional barrier to accepting official photographs of women wearing the hijab.

The ruling applies to documents including passports, voter identification cards, and university diplomas. It followed legal efforts by the Muslim women’s group Marea Hiyabi, which has advocated for the recognition of Muslim women’s right to maintain their religious identity in official records.

The case was brought forward after a Muslim woman identified as Bibiana was denied a passport twice by authorities in the Mexican state of Chihuahua because she was wearing the hijab. In July 2025, she obtained judicial protection after the Federal Public Defender’s Institute argued that the refusal violated her freedom of religion and protection against discrimination.

Members of Marea Hiyabi later presented their legal campaign at an event in Mexico City, highlighting the challenges faced by Muslim women seeking recognition of their right to wear the hijab in official settings.

Although the Supreme Court ruling establishes legal recognition of hijab use in official photographs, some Muslim women have said they continue to face discriminatory experiences in certain public services and social environments.