World Hijab Day

World Hijab Day is an annual event that takes place on February 1 in 116 participating countries . The very first World Hijab Day was celebrated in 2013. Founded by Nazma Khan, it is a worldwide event that encourages Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear the hijab, and experience life of a Hijabi woman (i.e. a woman wearing a hijab). World Hijab Day is described by its organisers as a way for the non-Hijabi woman to experience hijab from the other side,^[1] while others among critics have described it as a "well-financed effort by conservative Muslims to dominate modern Muslim societies."^[2]

Background

The hijab is viewed by some as a method of oppression. Women in various islamic countries are being forced to wear hijab and it is believe by some that some women are being forced to wear it in non-muslim countries and continue their traditions. According to the organisers of the World Hijab Day, this leads to women wearing hijab as being oppressed and ill-treated in many societies, with no opportunity to express their choice to wear a hijab. Many example of restrictions for women to wear hijab women can be found worldwide. For example:

France: In 2004, France banned religious symbol from public schools.

U.S.: Even in a diverse and free country like the United States, hijabi women here faced many challenges. In the post 9/11 era, some Hijabi women around the US were victims of cruelty, and oppression . Nazma Khan, who later created World Hijab Day, claimed to have been repeatedly the victim of hate crime from classmates and professors.^[3]

Egypt: In countries where most woman practice hijab, they are still victimized. In Egypt, 90% of the female population practice wearing hijab, but they are under represented in the country. Despite having such a large population of hijabi women, Egypt's first hijabi wearing news broadcaster was only first aired in 2002. Hijabi women were also undermined when it came to foreign missions, because the country wanted to be represented as modern,and the covering of the hair worked as a disadvantage for the hijabi women in Egypt.

According to their organisers, World Hijab Day was created to support women and their freedom to express themselves via the practise of hijab.

Development

World Hijab Day was started by Nazma Khan. She experienced the negative side of practicing hijab after 9/11. She faced various kind of bullying, and decided to stand against this oppression. She created World Hijab Day, and tried to encourage non-hijabi women to wear hijab. She wanted non-hijabi women to experience what hijabi women went through daily. The oppression, and the stereotypical judgment that are associated with hijab. At the same time, hijab day also aims to stop the physical judgment of the women, and promote judgment based on intellectual abilities. World Hijab Day claims to achieve these goals by giving women an opportunity to wear hijab for a day, and get real life experience of hijab for themselves. It also aims to create a connection between hijabi and non-hijabi women and provides support for the hijabi girls, which they claim lack in many societies. The World Hijab Day also is a source for the hijabi women to vocalize their opinion.

Criticism

Some critics asked "as Muslim women, we actually ask you not to wear the hijab in the name of interfaith solidarity", and pointed out that "this modern-day movement spreads an ideology of political Islam", is a "well-financed effort by conservative Muslims to dominate modern Muslim societies" and spreads the "misleading interpretation" that "hijab" means headscarf.^[4] World Hijab Day has also been described as "worse than passé" it was suggested that its name be changed to "Hijab Is a Choice Day".^[5]

See also

• Christian headcovering
• Tichel
• Dupatta

References

1. Grima, Nathalie. "An Affair of the Heart": Hijab Narratives of Arab Muslim Women in Malta." Implicit Religion 16, no. 4 (December 2013): 461-481. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost.
2. Jones, Nicky. "BENEATH THE VEIL: MUSLIM GIRLS AND ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES IN SECULAR FRANCE." Macquarie Law Journal 9, (May 2009): 47-69. Academic Search Complete,EBSCOhost.
3. Prusher, Ilene. "World Hijab Day: Muslims debate where the headscarf belongs." Christian Science Monitor, September 4, 2012. N.PAG, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
4. Vyas, Sapna. "Identity Experiences of Young Muslim American Women in the Post 9/11 Era." Encounter 21, no. 2 (Summer2008 2008): 15-19. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost.
5. ZAHEDI, ASHRAF. "Muslim American Women in the Post-11 September Era." International Feminist Journal of Politics 13, no. 2 (June 2011): 183-203. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost.

Notes