Thousands of Women Fight Islamophobia
TEHRAN (FNA)- Thousands of women are wearing a hijab during the Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan to raise awareness about the head covering and educate people on fighting Islamophobia, according to the founder of the World Hijab Day Organization.
From Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Germany Malaysia, New Zealand, UK, the U.S. and all over the world, women are participating in the group’s Ramadan Challenge for the second straight year, Nazma Khan told Anadolu Agency.
"By inviting women of different faiths and backgrounds to wear the hijab, it normalizes the hijab,” she said, adding, "Thus, it no longer stays something ‘unknown’ which some might ignorantly fear or see it as a threat.”
But some women have been so inspired they have taken it upon themselves to take the challenge a step further and decided to fast for 29 or 30 days as required by the Islamic faith.
"For me, participating in the 30-day hijab challenge and fasting is taking a walk in someone else shoes,” World Hijab Day Ambassador Ashley Pearson, who lives in Arkansas, told Anadolu Agency, noting, "I wanted to learn what's is like to for others and understand what they may go through."
Pearson even visited a local mosque and made friends. She joins them during the celebratory iftar, or fast-breaking meal every night of Ramadan and enjoys getting to know and learn the Muslim culture.
One adherent of the Kemetic Orthodox religion sees the hijab as giving her control as to how she is perceived by the outside world.
World Hijab Day was created in 2013 to encourage women of all faiths and backgrounds to wear the hijab in support of Muslim women. It is celebrated annually February 1.
In 2017, World Hijab Day became a nonprofit organization with a mission to fight discrimination against Muslim women through awareness and education, according to the group’s website.
From Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Germany Malaysia, New Zealand, UK, the U.S. and all over the world, women are participating in the group’s Ramadan Challenge for the second straight year, Nazma Khan told Anadolu Agency.
"By inviting women of different faiths and backgrounds to wear the hijab, it normalizes the hijab,” she said, adding, "Thus, it no longer stays something ‘unknown’ which some might ignorantly fear or see it as a threat.”
But some women have been so inspired they have taken it upon themselves to take the challenge a step further and decided to fast for 29 or 30 days as required by the Islamic faith.
"For me, participating in the 30-day hijab challenge and fasting is taking a walk in someone else shoes,” World Hijab Day Ambassador Ashley Pearson, who lives in Arkansas, told Anadolu Agency, noting, "I wanted to learn what's is like to for others and understand what they may go through."
Pearson even visited a local mosque and made friends. She joins them during the celebratory iftar, or fast-breaking meal every night of Ramadan and enjoys getting to know and learn the Muslim culture.
One adherent of the Kemetic Orthodox religion sees the hijab as giving her control as to how she is perceived by the outside world.
World Hijab Day was created in 2013 to encourage women of all faiths and backgrounds to wear the hijab in support of Muslim women. It is celebrated annually February 1.
In 2017, World Hijab Day became a nonprofit organization with a mission to fight discrimination against Muslim women through awareness and education, according to the group’s website.