On Feb. 1, a large group gathered in  the Science Conference Center to celebrate World Hijab Day and to learn about the Muslim tradition of the hijab. Muslim women gathered at the front to give a presentation describing the reasons for why they wear the hijab. The speech involved a verse from the Quran and a list of reasons that the hijab benefits the wearer.

The women stated that through the Quran, God gave women the wisdom of the hijab. They later said that the hijab helped them become more respected within society by practicing modesty. Freshman Najiha Zaman adorns the hijab coming to school everyday.

“My religion tells me to wear a hijab to be respected and show modesty,” said Zaman. “We do not judge people based on how they look, we judge them based on their personality, their smiles and their actions.”

However, the hijab had caused many of them to face some form of discrimination. A goal of the event was to end discrimination against women who wear hijabs by displaying the character of Muslim woman. Zaman tells stories of discrimination in the past.

“In kindergarten, I would sometimes wear the hijab,” Zaman said. “One day my best friend told me that when I wore the hijab I looked like a clown, so I got a bit offended and stopped wearing it for the rest of the year. In fifth grade, someone even tried to take it off.”

The central message of World Hijab Day assembly to the students was that Muslim women wearing hijabs are just ordinary women practicing their religion, and they have the right to do so. The speakers spoke of hardships from wearing a hijab that have molded them into empowered women of society. Not only do Muslim women face discrimination due to a head covering, many other religions such as Orthodox Judaism have a similar practice for women.

The event was a true display of the diversity amongst the student population. Many learned how the hijab affected a woman’s day to day life style and how it led to experiences in their life. Additionally, at the end of the period, all who attended were able to experience the Muslim culture by being treated to a delicious Middle Eastern desert and even an opportunity to try on a hijab.