“Why do you wear the hijab?” is a question I’m often asked. Whether it’s by well-intentioned and genuinely curious people, those who think I’m doing a disservice to feminism, men who think I would look better without it or others with pure vitriol towards women like me. Well, it’s been 10 years since I began wearing the hijab and here is why I do.

I was around 14-years-old, growing up in a small town in the West Midlands and had recently begun practicing my faith when I first put it on. I was born and raised Muslim, but found a new connection to my faith during the Islamic month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset as a way to gain a better consciousness of God. It was the change I needed in my life and wearing the hijab felt like a way to affirm that.

By wearing the hijab, I’m constantly reminded to practice my faith and be the best version of myself due to being a visual representation of my religion. Whether that means going out of my way to help someone in need, giving plentifully in charity or keeping my mouth shut when people walk slowly in front of me during rush hour in London.

It also provides me with an instant sisterhood and sense of solidarity with other visibly Muslim women (there’s nothing quite like the friendships made in prayer rooms and swapping modest fashion tips) and invites people to judge me based on my character, over my hair or body. Overall, Muslim women wear the hijab for a plethora of reasons and it can be a difficult choice, which I’ve found now to be the case now more than ever.

Sometimes, it’s the little things. I’ve noticed people making judgements about me or appear surprised when I’m articulate, funny or opinionated as they don’t expect Muslim women to be any of those things, as if there is a covering over our mouths rather than our heads (side note, for the women I know who do wear full face veils such as the niqab, they’re some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.)

At worst, it’s the constant discrimination and feeling at risk. For the most part, I’ve been lucky apart from ignorant comments, some shouting and intense stares. Recently, though, I witnessed an older, hijab-wearing woman being called a terrorist and a member of Hamas on a busy London bus. Many of my friends have had similar or worse experiences, such as having their hijabs pulled off and being threatened with physical violence.

Tell MAMA, a charity which records anti-Muslim incidents in the UK, has reported a 600 per cent increase in Islamophobic incidents since Hamas’ attacks in Israel on 7th October, which makes wearing the hijab tougher than ever. Journalist Nadeine Asbali articulates such feelings brilliantly in her book, ‘Veiled Threat’. “[Our] existence is built on the precarious grounds of policy and stereotype, penned in between the twin oppressions of misogyny and Islamophobia,” she writes.

“Our voices drowned out by the endless din of those seeking to save us and others condemning our covered bodies as foreign, menacing, un-British,” Nadine continues. It can be exhausting and dehumanizing to constantly have to prove your humanity to those who simply do not wish to see it, based on stereotypes and misjudgments incited by parts of the media, exclusionary feminist discourses, outright racists and more.

So, despite this, why do I still choose to wear the hijab? Well, it’s become a core part of my identity. It’s a constant reminder for me to practice my faith without fear, better my character and it’s become a normal part of my daily routine. To take off my hijab would be to dilute who I am in hopes of appeasing those who refuse to accept me, either way.

On this World Hijab Day, an annual event founded in 2013, I feel a greater sense of purpose, belonging and empowerment as a visibly Muslim woman. I’m inspired by those around me who show strength in the face of discrimination, trailblazers increasing representation in their industries and the heartbreaking resilience of the women of Gaza. While it can be difficult, wearing the hijab has – and will always feel – like home to me.

Source: Cosmopolitan UK

A recent wave of arrests of Muslim women at pro-Palestine protests has highlighted a critical flaw in the US criminal justice system: the lack of protection for religious freedom, particularly for Muslim women who wear the hijab. The hijab is an essential part of a Muslim woman’s faith, symbolizing modesty, privacy, and agency over her body. However, law enforcement officials have been targeting Muslim women, stripping them of their hijabs, and subjecting them to humiliating and traumatizing experiences.

Sumaya Hamadmad, a research scientist at Ohio State University, was arrested on April 25, for “criminal trespassing” while simply enjoying the sunny morning on campus. When she questioned the officers’ orders to leave, she was arrested and transferred to a Franklin County jail, where she was strip-searched and ordered to remove her hijab. Despite her multiple requests, she was denied a head covering for 12 hours, forcing her to tuck her arms and hair into her shirt to remain covered.

Hamadmad is not alone in her experience. Multiple incidents of law enforcement officials taking off women’s hijabs against their will have occurred alongside sweeping arrests at pro-Palestine protests. Many of these incidents have taken place on college campuses, with verified reports from students and faculty at least four universities.

The hijab is an expression of a Muslim woman’s faith, and depriving her of it can be humiliating and traumatizing. Muslim women have a clear First Amendment right to keep their heads covered for religious purposes, including in spaces where others might have to remove head coverings. However, there are no federal laws that explicitly protect a woman’s right to keep on her hijab while being arrested, in police custody, or in a temporary holding facility.

The lack of protection for religious freedom is not limited to the hijab. Muslim women have reported being forced to remove their hijabs for mug shots, being searched by male officers, and being denied access to religious accommodations in prison. Jinan, a 27-year-old engineer from Maryland, was arrested in March while protesting in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC. She was ordered to remove her hijab for a mug shot, and when she refused, she was arrested and taken to a jail where she was forced to wait for 12 hours without a hijab.

The experiences of Hamadmad and Jinan are not isolated incidents. A spokesperson for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office claimed that all detainees were processed in accordance with “constitutional, statutory, and administrative law,” but the reality is that Muslim women are being subjected to discrimination and Islamophobia.

The lack of protection for religious freedom is not limited to law enforcement. Many police departments have no policies in place regarding religious head coverings, and even when they do, they are often ignored. The New York Police Department, for example, changed its policy in 2020 to allow people to keep their religious head coverings, including hijabs, for their mug shot and throughout their stay in custody. However, the NYPD may have violated its own policy in at least one instance since the crackdown on Gaza solidarity encampments began.

The experiences of Muslim women in US prisons and police custody are a stark reminder of the need for greater legal protection for religious freedom. The hijab is an essential part of a Muslim woman’s faith, and depriving her of it can be humiliating and traumatizing. It is time for law enforcement officials to respect the religious beliefs of Muslim women and for policymakers to pass laws that protect their right to practice their faith freely.

Source: The Nation

Reports released June 23, revealed that Elizabeth Wolf, 42, was arrested on May 19 in the Dallas suburb of Euless, a day after the incident took place.

Investigators said a disturbance was reported between two women at the apartment pool where Wolf questioned the 32-year-old mother about her country of origin, as she was wearing a hijab, or Muslim headscarf.

Police said Wolf attempted to grab the woman’s 6-year-old son, who was able to get away, then tried drowning her 3-year-old daughter in the pool.

“The mother began helping her son when Wolf grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and forced her underwater,” police told reporters.

“The mother was able to pull back her daughter from the water. Her daughter had been yelling for help and was coughing up water.”

Authorities said witnesses told them that Wolf was intoxicated and spewed racist remarks at the mother and her children regarding their nationality.

“We are American citizens originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids,” the mom, identified only as Mrs. H, told news outlets in the aftermath of the incident.

“My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here,” she continued. “My daughter is traumatized. Whenever I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides, telling me she is afraid the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) alleged that Wolf also snatched the mother’s headscarf off while she tried to save her daughter and beat her with it.

The Austin, Texas chapter of CAIR has called on state and federal authorities to probe the incident as a hate crime.

“We are seeing a new level of bigotry here where a person deeply believes they get to decide, based on religion, spoken language and country of origin whose kids deserve to stay alive and whose don’t,” said CAIR Austin operations manager Shaimaa Zayan in a statement.

Wolf was charged with several counts, including attempted capital murder, injury to a child and public intoxication.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Manal Fkihi, a 25-year-old journalist, is fighting for her right to work without compromising her identity. Her application for a press card was rejected by the CCIJP (Commission de la Carte d’Identité des Journalistes Professionnels), a commission to issue ID cards for professional journalists in France, citing a requirement that ID photos meet the same standard as passports, which prohibit head coverings. Fkihi argues that this rule is discriminatory and that a press card is a professional card, not a form of ID.

France forbids head coverings in passport photos, unlike Britain where they are permitted for religious reasons.

Fkihi’s lawyer, Slim Ben Achour, plans to appeal the decision to the CCIJP and, if necessary, to the administrative court.

Fkihi says that she was once offered a television journalism job, on the condition that she did not wear her headscarf. “What is crazy is that it was for an Arabic-speaking post. They want our skills but without our identities,” she said, declining to name the media organization.

France’s laws on secularism have been criticized by some rights groups, who argue that they target Muslims. While there is no national legislation covering non-state workers, some organizations have created their own rules. Fkihi believes that these rules are unfair and that she should be able to work without compromising her identity.

The issue is not just about Fkihi’s right to work, but also about the marginalization of veiled women in the profession. By appealing the decision, Fkihi hopes to combat this marginalization and pave the way for other veiled women to succeed in their careers.

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Police in the southwestern US forcibly removed a headscarf from a woman taking part in a pro-Palestine protest at a university, as shown in footage of the incident.

Footage from Arizona State University, which quickly went viral, shows the police forcibly removing the headscarf of a woman while she tries to cover her hair with material from her dress. The woman’s face is pixelated and not seen.

Azza Abuseif, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Arizona, released a statement saying: “The First Amendment guarantees the free practice of religion.

“Police cannot suspend this right. We condemn the reported actions of ASU police and call for a full investigation into this incident.”

Stating that there are reports that the headscarves of at least four women detained in the demonstrations were removed, Abuseif said CAIR Arizona is looking into the incident.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Reported discrimination and attacks against Muslims and Palestinians reached a record high in the U.S. in 2023, driven by rising Islamophobia and bias as the Israel-Gaza war raged late in the year, data from an advocacy group showed on Tuesday.

Complaints totaled 8,061 in 2023, a 56% rise from the year before and the highest since the Council on American-Islamic Relations began records nearly 30 years ago. About 3,600 of those incidents occurred from October to December, CAIR said.

Human rights advocates have similarly reported a global rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism since the latest eruption of conflict in the Middle East.

U.S. incidents have included the fatal October stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume in Illinois, the November shooting of three students of Palestinian descent in Vermont and the February stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas.

CAIR’s report said 2023 saw a “resurgence of anti-Muslim hate” after the first ever recorded annual drop in complaints in 2022. In the first nine months of 2023, such incidents averaged around 500 a month before jumping to nearly 1,200 a month in the last quarter.

“The primary force behind this wave of heightened Islamophobia was the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine in October 2023,” the report said.

The most numerous complaints in 2023 were in the categories of immigration and asylum, employment discrimination, hate crimes and education discrimination, CAIR said.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent military assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has killed over 32,000 people, according to the local health ministry, displaced nearly all its 2.3 million population, put Gaza on the brink of starvation and led to genocide allegations.

CAIR said it compiled the numbers by reviewing public statements and videos as well as reports from public calls, emails and an online complaint system. It contacted people whose incidents were reported in the media.

Source: Reuters

Bullying against Muslim students is happening all across the United States. It is real, it is ugly, and it is happening way more often than you might think.

According to a 2022 survey by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding:

– 48% of Muslim families reported that their child had been bullied because of their faith.

– 20% of Muslim students experience bullying nearly every day.

Muslim students encounter various forms of bullying, including physical attacks, verbal threats, and social isolation. These experiences can leave them feeling threatened, frightened, and disconnected from their school community. Some common examples of bullying reported by Muslim students include:

Having their hijab pulled off without reason, being targeted with jokes and unfairly blamed, facing offensive questions about terrorism and bomb-making.

Bullying and racism have far-reaching effects on Muslim students such as:

– Emotional Impact: Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and low self-esteem are common consequences.

– Identity Struggle: Some students feel torn between being a citizen of their country and being Muslim.

– Cultural Disconnection: The feeling of a deep gap between the student and the society in which he lives.

In order to take action, we need to pay attention to the critical role of the educators. First, they should train to recognize the address biases. Then, they can raise the awareness about the contributions of Muslim Americans to dispel stereotypes. Providing moral lessons to educate students in terms of morality can be helpful as well.

The victim, accompanied by three young American Muslims, was driving home after participating in a pro-Palestine protest when Bert James Baker, a white male on a bicycle, attempted to tear a flagpole adorned with a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf reading ‘Free Palestine’ off their car.

According to the victims, Baker repeatedly screamed the n-word and other obscenities, opened the passenger door, pulled one of the victims out of the car and stabbed him in the chest.

The Austin Police Department promptly arrested the attacker on the scene for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“We strongly condemn this apparent act of hate, we applaud these young men for bravely defending themselves, and we call on state and federal law enforcement authorities to file appropriate charges against the suspect, including hate crime charges,” Mustafa Carroll, director of the Dallas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said in a statement.

“No one should be targeted and attacked because they put Palestinian-themed items on their vehicle. Anti-Palestinian racism and anti-Muslim bigotry have no place in Texas or anywhere else in our nation.”

CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell warned against the rising wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.

“This apparent act of hate in Austin appears to be the latest incident of hate motivated by the rise in anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia,” he said.

“From the murder of six-year-old Wadea outside Chicago to the shooting of three college students in Burlington, Vermont, far too many incidents of violence against Muslims, Palestinians and others who support Palestinian human rights have occurred over the past several months. Those responsible for this violence must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and those fomenting the hate that leads to this violence must be condemned.”

The victim, who hasn’t been named, is the third Palestinian American to be targeted after the eruption of the Gaza war on October 7.

Last October, another Palestinian American was hospitalized after being hit by the driver of a dark SUV who shouted ‘Kill all Palestinians,’ ‘Long live Israel’.

Also in October, Palestinian American boy Wadea al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times by a 71-year-old landlord who was allegedly upset about the Israel-Hamas war.

Source: AboutIslam