The Muslim Student Association (MSA) celebrates World Hijab Day for the second time this year. Every year on Feb. 1, women, regardless of religion around the world are encouraged to wear a hijab and experience what it’s like to wear one.
“The objective of this day is to have awareness from the community from not only the community but also the student body here at Metea. It’s important for students here to know that there are many muslim students who go here as well as students who wear a hijab,” MSA sponsor and Assistant Principal Secretary Aurelie Williams said.
The founder of the day, Nazma Khan, had very strong thoughts on why there should be a National Hijab Day which she said in a video posted on the official site for the holiday, worldhijabday.com. Having gone through multiple negative experiences growing up due to lack of understanding from her peers’ perspective, she thought that a national day dedicated to spread awareness was the best way to debunk misconceptions.
“My message was to simply invite women from all faiths to wear the hijab, just for a day. World Hijab Day was a success as women from everywhere gave their support and stood in solidarity to support those who choose to wear the hijab every single day,” Khan said.
Recently, with tense political debates on topic of American Muslims, a stigma has attached itself to the faith. But it didn’t just start now. It’s been rough for Muslims dealing with misconceptions about their faith around the world.
“These are not current issues. Unfortunately, since Sept. 11, 2001, there has been a negative light shown on the Muslim community, and has caused a negative impact. These issues that girls who wear hijabs face are not recent problems, they’ve been discriminated against and been misunderstood as to why they’re wearing it,” Williams said.
Members of the club believe Hijab Day was a success last year, and is only growing in popularity this year. “I’m very proud that MSA students here at Metea are the first in the entire district that started participating in the event. Last year was our first Hijab Day, and it was really nice. There was a lot of questions from students,” Williams added.
Balkin Tuffle • Feb 28, 2017 at 2:08 pm
The whole wearing the hijab to “raise awareness” is stupid. Because, the whole “because of politics thing” isn’t going to cut it anymore. Politics has evolved to a point where, it’s like CNN. Ya watch it, you agree by nodding because you don’t really care, and the people that do care go complain about it on twitter. *cough* trump *cough* but politics you could say “runs the country” no it’s not that, and it’s not the people. We elect people that do the decisions for us, and just because of the wrongfully elected people you’re saying “this is oppression, or discrimination is more common.” No, neither of these are facts. The FACT is that the media is making everything so more widespread that, it’s more noticeable just by scrolling in tumblr to look at your kink stuff, and you notice on the side bar that trump was elected. This is the Information Age, not the “I need someone to lean on age.”
Norm Kelly • Mar 8, 2017 at 9:26 am
Word Salad lol
AllahLover • Feb 28, 2017 at 8:24 am
I think Hijabs restrict a woman from expressing herself.
Robert de Sable • Feb 3, 2017 at 10:30 am
We sacrificed our lives for control of the Holy Land and Jerusalem, and now you let the saracens infiltrate your kingdoms?
Deus Vult
The Actual Flying Spaghetti Monster • Feb 7, 2017 at 10:47 am
I think your being ironic and if so nice I legitimately laughed 😛
Emperor Justinian I • Mar 1, 2017 at 9:36 am
Now we’ve lost the Holy Land and Constantinople. Woe is me!
Ave maria.
Brandon Yechout • Feb 3, 2017 at 9:40 am
Though I can appreciate the sentiment of understanding and solidarity, I don’t think a symbol of female oppression is the best vessel for this message.
(Submitting this comment a second time, since it was originally rejected despite the fact that it doesn’t violate any of the listed rules.)
jack r • Feb 3, 2017 at 9:20 am
Droptop
max r • Feb 3, 2017 at 9:19 am
rain drop
Secret Admirer • Feb 2, 2017 at 8:22 am
OMG THE GIRL PICTURED IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. LIKE DUDE MODEL MATERIAL.
Secret Admirer 2 • Feb 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm
That’s Romana Pasha!
Jihad A. Abad • Feb 1, 2017 at 3:55 pm
Hijabs are very good fashion device and should be endorsed by all women in the world as it is not offending the wearer and it is timeless (I am a boy and I think they are very nice to see and because of that I think they are good fashion devices and such I will support jihads everyday”
The Actual Flying Spaghetti Monster • Feb 7, 2017 at 10:49 am
honestly as much as I dislike the morals of this religion the Hjaabs are an A+ fashion piece
Pantera/walk • Feb 1, 2017 at 1:51 pm
As a conservative who has no obligations no care for religion, I’am utterly appalled by this. At this point all this bickering will settle, but I can not just let this go on. One half of america admits to disliking the Islamic faith for feminist reasons(why Muslim women need hijab in Saudi Arabia and places as such). Muslim theology restricts equality for women especially and non Muslims, like Judaeo Christians, yet people would rather prosecute Christian coaches from praying with kids before football games than talk about the misogynist sentiments surrounding Muslim theology. The futility of the world hijab day will not only show another case of liberal hypocrisy, but will give the other half of america who voted for trump more reason to keep laughing in your impotence. Finally just remember not all of us are just gonna go oh oh nobody likes Christians, because a lot of us never cared key word NEVER cared about anything other than American liberty, american constitution, and american economy that’s it, and that’s why you aren’t gonna have you’re way for a few years, but until then just remember what you people told us about 8 years ago. Just be more “tolerant” remember.
someone else • Feb 1, 2017 at 8:34 pm
As a non-Muslim, I may be grossly misinterpreting the issue, but this is what I have found. Wearing a hijab is not a symbol of forcing women into submission. It is worn to protect modesty, the same way most religions would not condone wearing clothes that are too revealing. Different cultures have different views on privacy and modesty. Islam simply sees a woman’s hair as something personal and private. They are encouraged to cover it up in order to prevent impure glances. On the other side of the issue, men are told in the Quran to lower their gaze from a woman’s body. The hijab is simply meant to keep women from showing off their body impurely, no different from Christianity’s strict rules on fidelity. Also, early Muslim civilizations generally treated women better than their counterparts at the time. Over the years, of course, this has been twisted to justify rulers’ ambitions. It is the same as the KKK using Christianity to excuse their mass killings. Islam, as a religion, is not anti-women. World Hijab Day simply invites people to step into the world of what it is like to a Muslim in the west.
a muslim • Feb 2, 2017 at 8:02 am
it’s strange that you start with the idea that you have no care for religion, because after that sentence you make it seem like you do? there is “misogynistic ideas” in your opinions but behind all of them are solid reasons. also the idea that christian coaches are praying with kids is not related to your point, and have you ever heard a Muslim coach being prosecuted for this? we are not asking people to dislike Christians, we are asking people to accept Islam as a faith and not a terrorist group and to accept the hijab. you are obviously a white privileged person who has never dealt with a challenge to your beliefs in your life or any true oppression. if Americans really cared about liberty than racism and bigotry would not exist. and finally, you, like many others are misguided by the media and only see the world in your limited view. sometimes it is better to see the big picture and be less selfish
some guy • Feb 3, 2017 at 11:12 am
I have respect for religion. that’s why me being a metalhead , of whom Christians really dislike, is defending them. The only religion I don’t respect is Islam in my opinion.
The Actual Flying Spaghetti Monster • Feb 7, 2017 at 10:46 am
ditto, im an aethiest metalhead who has no problem with religion except for islam
Metea Staff • Feb 2, 2017 at 10:28 am
@Pantera Walk: I am sorry you feel this way and did not understood the point of the event and I wish you would have come to the table to get a little more information on the subject… it would have saved you from writing that long comment and you would have found the answers to your question on why some Muslim women do want to wear the hijab and why some chose not to. I although could not agree with you more regarding needing to be more tolerant.
Please don't censor me again • Feb 2, 2017 at 6:17 pm
I think we are all forgetting that hijab is symbolic of submission to God. This is no feminist, Muslim-toleration issue as so many in the hallways seem to think it is. To me it seems like the same thing if I were to go around baptizing people to promote toleration of Jews.
some guy • Feb 3, 2017 at 11:20 am
Thanks for not vilifying me for views of which are a part of me as an individual being, but believe me I don’t care why modern women are so into supporting the Hijab now I care more about the origin of its use and current usage within it’s country of origin. I just wish people would stop the Hypocrisy. Christians don’t kill gay people, while truly disliking them, but you endorse muslim theology, that in other nations is used to throw gay people of buildings for fun. Don’t talk to me about stuff that happened a hundred of years ago when some muslim dudes in saudi arabia are currently throwing gay people of buildings.
Kiah • Feb 2, 2017 at 1:28 pm
As a conservative “who has no obligations nor care for religion”, you don’t know what wearing a hijab means to Muslim women and should probably do your research before you try to speak on something you don’t understand. You sound extremely ignorant. There are Christian women that wear hijabs too, so are they oppressed because of it?
Non Creative Name • Feb 2, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Can’t we just let people live their lives and let them express their religions freely? Let Muslims spread positivity if they want. Your comment is so negative it’s sad.
Pantera/ Five minutes alone • Feb 5, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Hijabs are not oppressive or used to force women into submission.
They are a choice. If a Muslim woman wants to be a little modest or get in touch with her religion or culture, she will choose to wear a Hijab, not because she is forced into it. Stop watching Fox News, start watching real news, please. And do your research.
Also, your comment barely made any sense. I suggest a proper grammar class or book, maybe an SAT vocab book.
Also, I totally agree, I’ve never talked to the girl in the picture, but she’s in my grade, and she is super pretty.
The Actual Flying Spaghetti Monster • Feb 7, 2017 at 10:50 am
dont you get killed in most islamic countries for not wearing a hjaab?
Vlad Mawla • Feb 22, 2017 at 7:56 am
Who said that, that is very false information unless you are talking about some of the more extremist countries.
tyrell • Feb 1, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Can we have a national Durag day for black people
Pseudo Intellectual • Feb 2, 2017 at 8:05 am
No one’s stopping you from doing so, so have at it, my dude!
The Actual Flying Spaghetti Monster • Feb 7, 2017 at 10:44 am
yes please