Thaya Ashman heard that some Muslim women were afraid to go outside in hijabs after the deadly shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Mar. 15, according to Reuters.
So she organized a movement of people to wear headscarves in solidarity. On Friday, people of all backgrounds throughout New Zealand could be seen wearing head coverings, including outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch — one of the targets of the terror attack.
“I wanted to say: ‘We are with you, we want you to feel at home on your own streets, we love, support, and respect you,’” Ashman told Reuters.
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The effort to make Muslims feel comfortable has found a strong ally in New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Ardern has worn a hijab on numerous occasions since the tragedy, ordered the broadcasting of the Muslim call to prayer on Friday, repeatedly denounced Islamophobia, accompanied survivors of the shooting in their mourning, and pledged official financial assistance to the families of the victims.
In this photo released by New Zealand Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, center, meets representatives of the Muslim community, March 16, 2019, at the Canterbury Refugee Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
In this photo released by New Zealand Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, center, meets representatives of the Muslim community, March 16, 2019, at the Canterbury Refugee Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The terror attack in Christchurch exposed deep roots of Islamophobia and white supremacy, causing widespread alarm around the world. Further, the terrorist’s manifesto echoes views championed by certain groups and individuals all around the world, which makes the fight against racism and xenophobia a global one.
The World Economic Forum recently reported that Islamophobia is on the rise across Europe, and anti-Muslim crimes have surged in the United States and Canada over the past two years.
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Earlier this week, Ardern called for a global fight against racism, which could begin with a special session on the matter at the United Nations.
The movement to wear headscarves in solidarity with Muslims in New Zealand is especially poignant as the hijab has become a symbol of controversy around the world.
In various countries, hijabs, burkas, and niqabs have been banned or restricted, and women who wear Muslim garments often face harassment and violence.
In New Zealand, some schools have been forced to review policies that prohibit hijabs in the past week.
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The country is facing a broader reckoning with Islamophobia, and Muslims have been sharing stories of how prejudice affects their daily lives.
During today’s Friday prayer, however, the country momentarily came together to show that Muslims are welcomed and appreciated.
“Why am I wearing a headscarf today?” Bell Sibly, in Christchurch, told Reuters. “Well, my primary reason was that if anybody else turns up waving a gun, I want to stand between him and anybody he might be pointing it at. And I don’t want him to be able to tell the difference, because there is no difference.”