I went along to LUU’s World Hijab Day event

On the 1st February 2013, World Hijab Day took place in the US as a way to educate people of the reasons Muslim women choose to wear the headscarf. Three years later the day remains to be celebrated worldwide – even at our own uni.

A group of first year hijabis (a nickname Muslim women brand themselves with for observing the headscarf) led by Medicine student Malak Mohamad thought it would be a great idea to answer questions about the hijab.

It was an opportunity for our fellow students to finally hear from the Muslim female perspective rather, as is usually the case, have our lives defined by others who do not know what it is like wearing a headscarf in a place where views of us are often prejudiced.

Malak showing who’s boss

The event was organised by a group of girls who offered students the chance to wear a hijab of their choosing, take a picture and answer any questions they wanted – even the awkward ones like “Do you shower with it?” For the record, no, we do not shower with it – that would be practically impossible.

With bogus assumptions that all Muslim women are forced to tie a piece of cloth on their heads, the girls revelled in the opportunity to set ideas straight. Of course there are females who under societal pressures do wear the hijab – however in many cases it is unfair to categorise all women as “oppressed creatures” who have no voice.

Malak, who comes from a background where wearing the hijab is a norm, took charge of showing people what the hijab truly means. When I asked her why she organised it, Malak gave a number of reasons: “I thought it was a fun and informative way to educate people of the hijab and for once see it in a positive light. I come from the UAE and there of course everyone just knows why we wear it.

“It’s about modesty and in a world where women are increasingly objectified it allows people to respect women for their minds rather than bodies. People assume the hijab oppresses us but it liberates me. Muslims are often perceived as ‘terrorists’’ and unapproachable so I thought I should clear out these misconceptions.

“We really are quite friendly. Besides, some girls looked so beautiful in it – I wish I could rock it that well. Except the boys: they definitely didn’t look good.”

The day also allowed for bonding between students of different races and religions. In a discussion between one of the volunteers, Sabeen, and two Jewish students, the girls identified similarities in their faiths one of which was the rule of wearing a headscarf. Malak pointed out: “We don’t realise how similar we are until we discuss it.”

On the day’s success, Malak said: “We didn’t want anyone representing us. It came from us, not through someone else’s lens.”