Stories of different attacks on hijab-wearing Muslim women have surfaced on the facebook-sphere and for me and several other Muslim women, it’s frustrating, it’s anxiety-inducing and it’s hurtful.
Those feelings are present beyond the fact that we are in physical danger because of our outward expression of our faith. But it’s hurtful to not see are our brothers in crowds standing with us in solidarity and doing the same (expressing their faith outwardly). I called for brothers to “do something” to express their faith in their appearance. Whatever you wish to do beyond that is a conversation you should take to your community. I say this in response to several comments about what we “should actually be doing.” Mobilization will happen at several levels and several audience. The level I’m pushing is an intra-communal level with an audience of Muslims.
After the video, a group of brothers rose to the challenge and began to mobilize. I’ll briefly outline the discussion/ideas below.
- Encourage Muslim brothers in your circles/networks to display outward expressions of their faith, particularly the kufi (which is universally seen as an Islamic head covering but also comes in different styles reflecting different cultures). Other articles of clothing are encouraged whether that be a thobe or a sirwal qamees or a hatta. We ask that you do this regularly, not just on a single day, at least while tension is high.
- Use the hashtag #WithMySisterIStand to show your support on the days you take that action, be it a picture or an interview. This way, the message reaches globally and we can display true solidarity using social media as our resource.
- A shirt is being designed. It would include the hashtag and offer a way to explain to the purpose of the solidarity campaign.
- MSAs and other Islamic organizations are encouraged to use jummah as a shared space to have this conversation. Some suggestions were to use this as a dawah opportunity, invite non-Muslims to jummah and have the khutbah oriented toward the topic of solidarity with sisters and then connect it to the larger topic of solidarity or justice during these troubling times (choose your khateeb very wisely). But as stated in the introduction, take the conversation to your community and tailor it to the needs of the community.
- Be very conscious of being an ally, not a savior all throughout the process. Check your intentions regularly. If brothers are mobilizing, don’t do it singularly, get input of the female community organizers in your midst. We’re asking you to stand WITH us, not for us.