World Hijab Day: Global movement to end bigotry, xenophobia

“World Hijab Day movement seeks to end the discrimination and judgment that comes with wearing a hijab.”-David Weprin, US Assemblyman

On February 1st of every year, World Hijab Day (WHD) asks people of all faiths to wear the hijab for a day in solidarity with Muslim women worldwide. The overall mission of WHD is to create a more peaceful world where global citizens respect each other.

With the recent rise in Islamophobia, such as the hijab and other religious clothing being banned in countries like France, Muslim women who wear Hijab are disproportionately targeted by hate crimes.

Below are some of shocking but true headlines:

• Attacks Against Muslim Women at Multiple Colleges Since Trump Won (Vice)

• Muslim High School Teacher Told Hang Yourself With Hijab (NY Daily News)

• Muslim Girl’s Hijab Ripped Off in Front of Students (Times of India)

• UW Bothwell Investigating Possible Hate Crime Against Muslim Women (Seattle Times)

• At San Jose State University in California, a Muslim woman complained that she was grabbed by her hijab and choked. The police are investigating." (New York Times) the

Heartfelt story behind World Hijab Day

While growing up in NYC, Nazma Khan was harassed both physically and verbally on numerous occasions. These attacks increased around 9/11. However, Nazma stayed firm on wearing her Hijab as she believed it was human right to wear it. Her purpose in founding this event was to introduce her pain to others in hope that no one will ever have to go through the same emotional trauma simply because of the love they have for their faith.

On February 1, 2013, women residing in 67 different countries, representing Christians, Jews, pagans, Wiccans, Rastafarians, Buddhists and others, answered her call to don the hijab for one day. Since then, thousands of people all across the globe have shared their stories of transformation as a result from over 150 countries.

World Hijab Day - Countering the Negative Narrative about Muslims Worldwide

World Hijab Day (WHD) allows people who are unfamiliar with Islam to open up dialogues with their Muslim neighbors, coworkers, and friends, and share with others what they learn. WHD allows participants to have a personal and meaningful experience with Islam and Muslims, to counter the dominant, negative narrative of Muslims as terrorists or Muslim women as oppressed.

“I was as ignorant as the news media had programmed us to be when we saw hijab-wearing women and thought they were suppressed and submissive." - Sallie Jones, USA, Non-Muslim.

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