We seem to hear you say, “This is the first time I’ve heard of such a day”. Today does serve a very good purpose: World Hijab Day aims to encourage women to voice their choice and bring awareness to hijabi women experience. Events take place in about 116 countries around the world and anyone who wishes experiences the hijab for one day. The events aim to create empathy and understanding between Muslim hijabi women and non-Hijabi Muslims/non-Muslims. In a world where Islamophobia is increasing, there can be no better opportunity to understand women who choose to live their religious beliefs as they wish. Considering that the perspectives of the participants in the event have changed and their prejudices are lifted, we give our wholehearted support to this movement aiming to achieve world peace. Do you wonder how World Hijab Day, which has been celebrated for 9 years and continues its journey with more participants each year, came about? When Nazma Khan, a Muslim from Bangladesh, immigrated to America with her family at the age of 11, she started her education as the only hijabi in school. This young girl, who didn’t not speak English, was mocked by other students and even her teachers for wearing a hijab. She was forced to give up her hijab by being exposed to various insults. As she continued her education at university, resisting all negativities, 9/11 took place. Post-9/11 treatment of Muslims all over the world and deepening Islamophobia made life unlivable for Nazma, a Muslim woman wearing the hijab in America as the hijab made her religious identity visible. Nazma Khan, who tried to survive by enduring all these difficulties, never forgot what has been done to her and after establishing her own business, she came up with a project to open new pathways to develop a deeper understanding and raise awareness all over the world. After that day, February 1st has turned into a day that represents sisterhood and empathy towards women all around the world
