World Hijab Day

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World Hijab Day
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World Hijab Day Poster
Official name Inzamamul Haque
Observed by Various Islamic countries
Date February 1
Frequency Annual

World Hijab Day occurs annually on February 1 in 140 participating countries.[1] The first World Hijab Day was celebrated in 2013 and was founded by Nazma Khan. The event encourages all women, both Islamic and non-Islamic, to wear the hijab and experience life as a someone who wears a hijab. World Hijab Day is described by its organizers as a way for the non-hijabi wearing woman to experience the hijab from the other side,[2] while some critics have described it as a "well-financed effort by radical Muslims to dominate modern Muslim societies."[3]

Background

Women in the predominantly Islamic country of Algeria wearing a haïk, a type of veil.

The term hijab has become a catchall phrase, particularly in the West, for all Islamic veils, but is mainly referred to as a headscarf. Styles vary not only by geography but also fashion trends.[4]

The hijab is viewed by some as a means of expression in the Islamic religion. It also may be viewed as an oppressive way for men to have an advantage over women. According to the organizers of World Hijab Day, this can lead to the oppression and mistreatment of hijab-wearing women in many Western societies. Others see this practice as a choice that should be left to the adult woman, and not be forced upon juveniles. For instance, the hijab has been banned in public schools in France since 2004, as it was viewed as a religious symbol.

In the United States and around the world, hijabi wearing women have experienced various difficulties. Post 9/11, hijabi wearing women around the US have been victims of bias, misunderstanding and even hate crimes.[citation needed].[5] World Hijab Day was created to provide solidarity for the women who suffer from oppression for their outward display of faith around the world.

In countries where most women wear the hijab, many still feel victimized. For example, 50% of the female population in Egypt wear the hijab, but many still feel as if they are not represented in popular media.[citation needed] Despite having such a large population of hijabi wearing women, Egypt's first hijab-wearing news broadcaster appeared on air in 2002.[citation needed] Hijabi women have been repeatedly undermined in foreign missions, as the country wanted to be represented as modern, and the covering of the hair worked as a disadvantage for the hijabi wearing women in Egypt.[citation needed]

Development

The World Hijab Day was started by Nazma Khan as a response to bias after the 9/11 attacks. She allegedly was a victim of hate crimes from her classmates and professors,[6] and decided to encourage women to wear hijabs for a day as an act of social protest.

World Hijab Day also aims to discourage the judgement of women by their physical appearance and to instead promote the judgement of them based on intellectual abilities.

World Hijab Day claims to achieve these goals by giving women an opportunity to wear a hijab for a day in order to get real-life experience. It also aims to create a connection between hijab-wearing and non-hijab-wearing women and provides support for voluntary younger hijab wearers as an act of solidarity. The World Hijab Day also gives hijabi wearing women an opportunity to speak out concerning their perspectives, struggles, and experiences.

Criticism of the practice

Some critics say, "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". Others accuse the day as a "Well-financed effort by conservative Muslims to dominate modern Muslim societies" spreading the "misleading interpretation" that the head covering is always worn voluntarily and the "hijab" purely means headscarf.[3] World Hijab Day has also been described as "worse than passe" it was suggested that its name be changed to "Hijab Is a Choice Day".[7]

See also

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.
  6. "Participating Countries - World Hijab Day." World Hijab Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2016.

Notes

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