For the past five years, on February 1st, World Hijab Day (WHD) ask women of all faith to wear a hijab in solidarity with Muslim women and to show strength against islamophobia. WHD has volunteers and participants worldwide and this was the first year Ohio University took part. Nasma Khan, founder of WHD, explained it on the official website by saying, “Growing up in the Bronx, in NYC, I experienced a great deal of discrimination due to my hijab, ‘she reflects. ‘In middle school, I was ‘Batman’ or ‘ninja’. When I entered University after 9/11, I was called Osama bin laden or terrorist. It was awful. I figured the only way to end discrimination is if we ask our fellow sisters to experience hijab themselves.”
Reem Al-khalqi adjusting Ohio University PhD student, Maria Modayil, hijab after she put it on for World Hijab Day at Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio on February 1, 2017. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)Habibe Temizsu taking a picture of Ohio University student, Brianna Sheridan, on World Hijab Day at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, on February 1, 2017. “it’s not cultural appropriation because people aren’t wearing them as a costume. They are wearing hijab in solidarity and to understand the religion,” said Reem Al-Khalqi. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)The table outside baker center full of different hijab for women to wear on World Hijab Day in Athens, Ohio, on February 1, 2017. Every year on February 1st, World Hijab day ask people of all faiths to wear a hijab to show solidarity against islamophobia. This is the first year that Ohio University participated in the event. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)Ohio University student, Alayna Gould, putting on a hijab for World Hijab Day at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, on February 1, 2017. This is the first year Ohio University participated in the event. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)Ohio University PhD student, Laura Chapman, putting on a headband to hold her hair back before she puts on a hijab for World Hijab Day at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, on February 1, 2017. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)Ohio University student, Ellenore Holbrook, putting on a hijab for the first time for World Hijab Day, at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, on February 1, 2017. “It is so important to have these events with what is happening now in politics and the world,” she said. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)Reem Al-khalqi adjusting Ohio University student, Nancy Mitchell, hijab after she put it on for World Hijab Day at Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio on February 1, 2017. (Carolyn Rogers/WOUB)
