“ 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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