SASKATOON – Many believe the aftermath of the Paris attacks has left a wake of Islamophobia in Canada. In order to prevent future violence, women of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community have launched a national campaign entitled #JeSuisHijabi to highlight Canadian values of acceptance and diversity.
“As Canadian, as a very proud Canadian, we should be able to wear what we want because this is one of the core values of Canada, right? Multi-culturalism, plurality and freedom of religion,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at spokesperson Naila Jamil said.
On Thursday, several women with the University of Saskatchewan’s Muslim Students Association set up an information booth to give people the opportunity to meet Muslim women and ask questions about the hijab and their faith.
“If you have any questions, come up to us, come talk to the Muslim women. That’s what we are trying to say. If you want to learn about the Muslim women identity, if you want to learn why they wear a hijab, then what is the better way than come to Muslim women and ask them why they are doing it?” Jamil said.
Campaign organizers hope Canadians will engage in peaceful discussions to foster a better understanding of the Islamic faith, which is something Jackie Crowe is proud to support by wearing a hijab.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re Muslim, First Nations or whatever. We’re all people and we need to just kind of respect that, and not be acting in violence just because of fear,” Crowe said.
As a Metis woman, Crowe says she knows what intolerance feels like, and will continue to wear the hijab even after this campaign.
“I actually think I will wear it. I think it brings some conversation and awareness. I think that as long as there’s violence or negativity or racism being said, we need to continue to have that discussion,” Crowe said.
The national campaign and social media #JeSuisHijabi will continue to run for the next two weeks.
Watch below: Women at the University of Calgary had an opportunity to try on a hijab today and learn the reasons behind why some followers of Islam choose to wear it. It’s all part of a national campaign using the hashtag #JeSuisHijab.
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