The World Hijab Day is celebrated every February 1, the Coalition of Muslim Women in Nigeria has called for more awareness on the importance and propriety of the Hijab, worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty and religious belief.
Coordinator of the coalition and National Ameera of Women in Dawah, Hajia Maryam Idris Othman made the call yesterday in Abuja, adding that Muslim women worldwide need more encouragement and tutoring to wear their Hijab properly as dictated by Islam.
It would be recalled that Nazma Khan, a Bangladeshi-American started the World Hijab Day in 2013 following harassment in her school and also due to the former President Nicholas Sarkozy of France who succumbed to anti-immigration pressure groups of the extreme right by clamping down on French Muslim Women’s public use of the Hijab.
With some countries having banned the hijab and others considering the same, World Hijab Day creates the much needed awareness in democratic societies of this basic right and educates the masses about the origins and reasons for the hijab.
A large number of non-Muslims have shown great support and get a first hand feel of the hijab by donning it for a day. Amongst other benefits from last years experience was that many non-Muslims have since actively supported the hijab and show greater appreciation and respect for hijabis. The idea is also to encourage those shying away due to the incorrect perceptions of the hijab to take the steps they’ve been longing to take.
When the world understands what hijab is, where it comes from and why it is donned, it will appreciate that banning it would do more harm than good. World Hijab Day is simply to create awareness and educate the world and because reminding is beneficial to all, World Hijab Day is held annually.
