The Great Neck Scandal: Why Activist Hanifa Deactivated Her X Account

Is it really 2024 or are we gatekeeping necks now?

Hanifa at the Pulse Awards.

Kenyan activist Hanifa has found herself in the eye of a social media storm (again). On Monday, October 14th, 2024, she did what many of us dream of when Twitter (or X, whatever you want to call it) becomes unbearable - she deactivated her account. But this time, the reason behind her digital exit wasn’t a repressive government or trolls from the usual corners. It was her... neck. Yes, you read that right.

Hanifa’s Hair (and Neck!) Cause an Uproar

It all started after Hanifa attended the Pulse Live Awards and dared - oh, the horror - to post a photo where a bit of her hair and neck were visible. Apparently, this small glimpse of skin caused an online frenzy. While most of us were enjoying the awards and the fashionable evening gowns, a subset of the internet couldn’t handle the sight of Hanifa’s exposed neckline. Neck-gate was born.

But before you think Hanifa bowed down to the hate, fellow activist Boniface Mwangi swooped in to clear the air. According to him, Hanifa’s decision to deactivate was nothing more than a “wellness break” from the toxicity. "She'll be back," he promised.

The Outrage Over a Neck - Seriously?

The internet was divided over the controversy, with many questioning why a woman's hair or neck could cause such a scandal. @RAbdiAnalyst summed it up in a tweet that gained traction:

"In the end, Hanifa was forced to delete her Twitter X account not because of action by a 'repressive' state but because of toxic hate from fanatical Muslims incensed by her dressing and selfie. The obsession to police what women wear is no longer faith; it is pathology."

Pathology or not, the comments kept coming. Here are some gems:

@mwabilimwagodi wasn’t having it:

"Hebu mnieleweshe, hii vita ya Hanifa is because she wore a dress and showed her neck??? Like, I see her face daily on here but shingo ikionekana ni shida? Shingo? Neck? And it's men who are angered by her showing her neck? Mna gate keep shingo??? What the fuck!"

@_EyushVick took a different approach:

"I don't know much about Hanifa, but huyo dem ni mrembo ajab...nipewe huyo mm nasettle."

@_MtuTano didn’t mince words:

"Muslim men in Kenya hate seeing Muslim women succeed. The Mombasa governor was accused of rape and sodomy, and they were silent. Hanifa shows some piece of her beautiful hair and neck, and they lose their minds!"

@JarelTheArtist made the best point:

"Hanifa faced down the state machinery and experienced its worst violence, but you internet weirdos forced her to deactivate her account coz she wore a tasteful evening gown?! Hell is hot!"

The Faith vs. Fashion Debate

The debate quickly shifted from being about Hanifa’s wardrobe to a larger conversation about the role of religion and how it impacts women. One particularly controversial comment came from @DaveBest07:

"Alafu wanasema Islam is a religion of peace!!! They want to behead Hanifa for not wearing hijab. Hanifa had to deactivate and hide from her Muslim brothers, and avoid hiyo religion like Cancer."

Of course, there were those who sided with a more conservative view, like @Abdullahi_M_H, who insisted:

"Dress Islamically & stop mingling with non-mahrams during protest."

What’s Next for Hanifa?

While the neck police might have forced her offline for now, Hanifa has proven time and time again that she’s not one to be silenced for long. She’s faced down more than this, and if we know anything about her, it’s that a comeback is inevitable. Whether or not the neck-gate continues is another story, but one thing’s for sure - Kenya, and the world, will be waiting for her next move.

So, here’s the real question: Are we going to keep obsessing over women’s necklines, or will we focus on something a little more pressing - like, I don’t know, actual issues?

Stay tuned!