A lot of people do not talk about this day; in fact they do not know this day may even exist. In fact when I complained to my teacher that this day had significant importance to help stop Islamophobia, and we must spread the news to the ignorant discriminative people in our generation, he stopped and asked me, “What even is a Hijab?”, and that came from a teacher who resided in Newham – the most diverse borough in the most diverse city known as London.
From then on I knew this article had to be published.
World Hijab Day – February 1st
A day of understanding, a day of empowering, a day of peace.
World Hijab Day falls under the first of February and has been celebrated each year in 140 countries worldwide. It was founded by Nazma Khan, a social activist, in hopes to adopt religious tolerance and understanding by inviting all women (Muslims and Non-Muslims) to adopt the life of modesty with a Hijab for one day. This opened the doors of enlightenment for many but countless more doors are closed.
With recent terrorist related issues that somehow reside with the ‘violent’, ’bloodthirsty’, ’Jihadi- Islamists’, Muslims from all over the world have faced backlash and hate crime for the very minority people (out of 1.8 billion) who claim to be Muslims, terrorising innocent people. Non-Muslims have turned against their Muslim friends, family and neighbours despite God commanding them to ‘love thy neighbour’. This hatred and despise from people has not only been influenced by corrupt politicians but also from newspaper articles.
But what is worse is that the hate crime is being targeted at those Muslims who can be visually spotted from afar – Muslim Women wearing Hijabs.
Hijab for many Muslims is a sign of power and modesty. It is scarf wrapped around one’s head, covering the hair which many Muslim Women choose to do. Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Muslim Australian Author states what she believes the Hijab is - “To the Muslim Women, the Hijab provides a sense of empowerment. It is a personal decision to dress modestly according to the command of a gender-less creator; to aside pride in self, and embrace one’s faith openly, with independence and courageous conviction.”
Many people see the Hijab as a symbol of terrorism despite the peaceful message that comes with it, thereafter seeing celebrating World Hijab Day as day of celebrating terrorism. Contradicting this ideology is the real reason why Nazma Khan, in 2013, created World Hijab Day – to give an opportunity to all women to fight discrimination against Muslim women through awareness and education.
To end off, I would like to send a message to the reader:
Support World Hijab Day – Celebrate it, Enjoy it but also share the message so that others could be enlightened, just like you have. Spread the word and spread the love of World Hijab Day.
Nazeerah Patel.
