One more event, as a part of the annual campaign to overcome negative stereotypes concerning Islam and its followers, including the mistaken opinion about Muslimahs, took place in Odesa. The activists from the women's department at Al-Masar ICC combined World Hijab Day celebration with the ongoing educational campaign "Ask a Muslim".
The organizers were the women went out on the city streets, offering all women, who wanted, to try Muslimah’s look with headscarf. They also conducted master classes, showing numerous methods of tying headscarves, palatines, etc. They also explained the differences between the scarf and the hijab, focusing public attention on the fact that the scarf is a cloth item, and the hijab is a collective concept means not just a style of clothing that involves hiding the aurata (the whole body), except for the hands, feet and face, but it is a reflection of the woman inwardness, her modesty and chastity.
The event attracted a large number of citizens. They were treated with oriental sweets and Arabic coffee. It aroused a great interest among women by offering to decorate their hands with henna painting. Of course, this event was an educational for all those interested in Islam or seeking to find out whether the information they had heard concerning this belief were true or not (not always positive one or at least neutral). So the collection of Islamic studies literature was prepared for them as a gift.
The women of Odesa, who tried on the Muslim look, liked it very much. They recommended their friends and relatives to attend the event. And within “Ask a Muslim” campaign, every citizen was able to ask a question and get information about the World Hijab Day campaign, the hijab itself, and the religion of Allah as a whole.
“Summarizing, we can say that the event was positive, as Deribasovska Street sparkled with colorful hijabs again. We were so excited! Now we are feeling happy about Muslims and women wearing hijab are treated very kindly and with great sympathy, alhamduliLlah,” -note activists.
However, Odesa Muslims didn’t limit themselves to those events, dedicated to the World Hijab Day. The very next day (Sunday, February 3, 2019), the Islamic Cultural Center held quizzes, giveaways, as well as master classes on makeup, and different methods of tying kerchiefs round the head for women. Event participants enjoyed friendly talks in a relaxed atmosphere, tasted oriental sweets and got a lot of good emotions and impressions.
Reference: World Hijab Day was founded by New York resident Nazmi Khan, who had faced discrimination because of wearing the hijab after a surge of Islamophobia had appeared as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Nazmi decided to establish World Hijab Day to fight the stereotypical perception of Islam and Muslim women.
