International Purple Hijab Day (sometimes known as Global Hijab Day or International Purple Hijab and Kufi Day) is an
international day of remembrance for those who have experienced
domestic violence. It is observed on the second Saturday each February. It is most often celebrated by
Muslims, with women donning a purple
hijab, but anyone may participate by wearing a purple item of clothing on the day such as a scarf, tie or
kufi
A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, and rounded cap worn by men in many populations in North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and South Asia. It is also worn by men throughout the African diaspora. It is also commonly called a "topi" or ...
.
Background
Many people believe that violence against women is allowed by
Islam.
The Baitul Salaam Network, a group that works with women who have faced domestic violence states that "one of the most ugly
stereotypes
In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...
is that Islam gives men the right to beat their wives." The
Voice of Libyan Women, an organization that started Purple Hijab Day for the first time in
Libya
Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Suda ...
, state that this is a terrible misinterpretation and a deliberate misuse of religion.
Instead, they say that Islam teaches "Muslims not to harm others." Sanaa Tariq, who organized an event in
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
, says that "Muslim women should not be regarded as oppressed" and that domestic violence is something that all groups of people care about.
History
When
Aasiya Zubair
Aasiya Zubair, also known as Aasiya Hassan (June 17, 1972 – February 12, 2009) was married to Muzzammil Hassan, the Pakistani-American founder and owner of Bridges TV, the first American Muslim English-language television network. In Feb ...
, a
Muslim American co-founder of
Bridges TV, was murdered by her husband, it came out that she had faced years of domestic violence from her husband.
Her murder "led to dramatic changes in the way Muslim communities address domestic violence," said Aasiya Hadayai Majeed, who works the Baitul Salaam Network. Within days of Zubair's death, a grassroots effort began to speak out against domestic violence in the Muslim community. Zubair was murdered on February 12, 2009, and so Purple Hijab Day takes place each year near the date she died to remember her and the domestic violence she suffered.
The first Purple Hijab Day was celebrated on February 13, 2010.
The color purple was chosen because the color purple "is associated with mourning."
People who promote Purple Hijab Day stress that the day is about symbolism, but that "acting in unity will send a strong message for progress in our communities." The first year's events included workshops in
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
, prayer vigils in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
and a moment of silence.
Events
Libya has celebrated by distributing a survey which could be taken anonymously and asked women about domestic violence.
The results of the survey were taken to the Libyan prime minister.
Some groups, like the
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland
The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI; Irish: ''Ionad Cultúrtha Ioslamach na hÉireann'') is an Islamic
complex, including a mosque, in Clonskeagh, Dublin, Ireland. It is funded by the al-Maktoum Foundation of Dubai and has a Sunni ori ...
, chose to celebrate on a different day, Wednesday, and presented information and refreshments.
In 2015, Purple Hijab Day used the
hashtags, #EndViolenceAgainstWomen, #PurpleHijabDay and #MuslimLivesMatter to spread awareness of the day.
See also
*
World Hijab Day
References
{{Reflist
External links
International Purple Hijab Day
Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
Domestic violence awareness
Domestic violence-related organizations
Islamic feminism
Islamic festivals
February observances