“Modesty is part of our Islamic faith,” Khan wrote in an email. “No one should be discriminated (against) for following their faith.”
So Khan started World Hijab Day to build empathy for this perspective and to encourage non-Muslims, and Muslims who don’t normally wear a hijab, to try it out. The Arabic word hijab refers not just to a headscarf but to modest dress and behavior in general.
“Our goal is to foster global religious tolerance and understanding through hijab awareness. Many women get discriminated (against) simply because they choose to wear the hijab,” Khan said. “Hopefully, this event will make people realize that women who wear the hijab are just like anyone else. They’re not oppressed or are forced to wear it. They just simply want to follow their faith by being modest, just like Mary (mother of Jesus).”
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“It’s moving forward religiously. If you’re raised (in) Islam, then you want to embrace everything it says. For me, personally, that progress was doing the hijab.”
She became involved in hijab activism in 2014, when Quebec’s national assembly began hearings on a secular charter to ban overt religious symbols in the public-sector workplace. She felt compelled to start speaking up in her community to help others understand that, for people like her, the hijab is a choice, not an imposition.
“If we keep living in our silos, we will never be able to break down barriers and stereotypes,” she said. “Social justice is not a spectator sport, so if we don’t work for it, nothing will change.”
