“ After the Paris attacks, I went into the subway and found that I was not able to force myself to lift my eyes. It felt as if every person in the train was looking at me and blaming me for the unfortunate events. In that moment, I represented what everyone else thought represented my religion.”
VEILED: PERSPECTIVES
It’ s not uncommon to hear naive comments such as“ I feel sorry that your religion forces you to wear the veil / oppresses you.” Whether it is directly said or reading it through comments on social media, that lack of comprehension leads even the kind-hearted to make ignorant comments. Understanding that Islam was written to give both men and women their rights and freedoms as well as a deeper understanding of life can be the difference between such comments and a profound understanding of a diverse subject.
When Hirra was younger, she encountered a similar situation. During their swimming classes, she would wear tights and a baggy shirt unlike the conventional bathing suit that other girls wore. She would often get remarks tossed her directions regarding her freedom within her religion.“ I feel sorry for you because your religion doesn’ t allow you to express yourself” were amongst some of the comments she recieved. She had never really had a negative experience living in Canada and wearing the veil other than what she heard through the media / social media platforms. However, everyone will come across someone who either doesn’ t mean well or simply does not understand what the topic at hand is about and what it signifies. Rebuttal by disagreement with a calm exterior and attitude is how Hirra responds to these comments.
“ After the Paris attacks, I went into the subway and found that I was not able to force myself to lift my eyes. It felt as if every person in the train was looking at me and blaming me for the unfortunate events. In that moment, I represented what everyone else thought represented my religion.”
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