Students at World of Inquiry School #58 showed off their head scarves with pride Wednesday to commemorate World Hijab Day. The idea is that it will promote a greater understanding between faiths and help non-Muslim people to appreciate why the garment is worn.
Dozens of head scarves lay across a table in the school’s cafeteria, until, one-by-one students lined up to put them on. Sasha Ruth, 9, wore a hijab printed with the American flag.
“My mom went to the [Women’s] March and that’s why I have this,” Ruth said. “I'm showing support because there’s a girl in my class that wears [a Hijab] every day.”
The student-led initiative was organized by Eman Muthana, a junior who is originally from Yemen. Muthana, who wears a hijab, wrote a letter to administrators at the school, requesting its participation in the annual global event.
She formed a committee of culturally diverse students and teachers, who said they worked together to bring awareness and have participants voluntarily experience what it feels like to wear the head covering for a day.
“It means a symbol of modesty, showing my respect for who I am, my culture, as well as showing respect for my faith and what I believe in,” Muthana explained.
Like many immigrants in the United States, Muthana said she has experienced turmoil and heartbreak in her family life this week. Due to President Donald Trump’s enforcement of an executive order on immigration, Muthana’s relatives in Yemen are currently banned from returning to the country.
Still, in preparation for World Hijab Day, she said she remained focused.
“You’ll always have these struggles,” Muthana said. “It’s very challenging but as long as you believe in yourself, it’s very easy. You can deal with it.”
Criticism from the school’s inaugural event last year almost hindered the World Hijab Day celebration from taking place in 2017. Sheila Webster, the school’s principal, called the negative public reaction a “misunderstanding.”
“It was taken out of context and became a media frenzy,” Webster said. “There was never a connection to religion, specifically; it was more around the custom and the culture.”
To avoid any confusion, Webster said holding additional meetings and altering some of the event logistics, such as location, helped their second effort go off without a hitch.
Muthana and her peers sought donations through social media, and at a local mosque to acquire enough scarves to make hijabs. The Yemen native also spent the days leading up to Wednesday’s event cutting ribbons, so that male students could also show their support by pinning them onto their shirts.
“I am very proud of those who stand with us along the way,” she said.
