Muslim Woman Finds Freedom as Uber Driver, Balancing Faith and Work

This mother of five has been an Uber driver since October 1, 2022, a job that does not prevent her from wearing the veil. With this work, she manages to handle her work schedules and take care of her family. "I love driving and I’m free to work whenever I want. On the other hand, I’m free to wear the Islamic veil, no one can ask me to take it off," she confides to Anadolu Agency.

Converted to Islam since 2005, Abilene Belkaid denounces the Islamophobia she has experienced after starting to wear the veil. Yet none of her job applications were rejected because of her veil, she says. "Today we see more veiled women working in France. Wearing the veil is not prohibited in this country, but it is difficult to find a job with it," she stressed.

Belkaid adds that 70% of her clients prefer to have a female driver rather than a male driver. But "I don’t think there are enough female drivers," she specifies.