Hijab Day
In the lead up to Australia Day this year there was a fair bit of controversy around a billboard featuring two young girls in hijabs. Recently it was World Hijab Day so we asked Rookie Reporter, Itrat to tell us what a hijab actually is and why she wears one.
Hi BTN! My name is Itrat! I'm 12 years old and I was born in Pakistan.
I moved to Australia with my parents and my four little brothers as refugees one year ago.
If you hadn't already noticed, I'm wearing something on my head! It's called a hijab. It's a scarf that covers my head and neck. It's worn by lots of Muslim girls and women all around the world. Muslim means we follow the religion of Islam.
A long time ago, we had a prophet; his wife and his daughter, they were wearing scarf and after that every Muslim started to wear scarf.
You've probably seen some other kinds of Muslim head scarves too, like the niqab, which looks like this, or the burka, which looks like this. But the most common one you'll see in Australia is the hijab, like I wear!
I wear my scarf every day, except night when I'm sleeping. My favourite one is this one, guys. You don't even know, it's so pretty! Like when I'm going wedding, I'm just wearing this one.
In some Islamic countries women have to wear a hijab in public, because it's the law. But in most countries, including Australia, it's more of a choice. Not every Muslim girl wears one, but I choose to!
I choose to wear hijab because it's my cultural thing and if I don't wear hijab - the other Muslim girls they wear hijab - and if I don't it looks a little bit weird, and I love my hijab that I'm wearing.
My friend Hadya chooses not to wear one all the time.
ITRAT: Hadya, why do you sometimes not wear a scarf?
HADYA: Its really hard for me to wear a scarf. My mum giving me two choices, if I want or I don't want. But the weather is so hot, my hair is so long, that's why I can't wear a scarf.
My hijab doesn't stop me from doing anything, like playing sport. I love soccer!
I think it's sad that sometimes people talk about hijabs like they're bad things.
Some peoples they're like mean, or like not understanding us and they'll say why are you wearing scarf and it feels really upset, like they're upsetting our friends or my mum or me.
Sometimes other kids ask us about our hijabs. We don't mind talking about it as long as they're being respectful.
WAJIHA: It's kind of upsetting when they say "Why do you wear a scarf? Is it because you have head-lice or something?" It makes me kind of upset.
ITRAT: If some people say "Why are you wearing scarf?" Say it nice way and be accepting.
Luckily, I feel accepted by everyone in Australia, especially when I'm at school!
I hope you learnt a little more about me and my head scarf today and next time you see someone wearing one, I hope you give them a smile!
- Amelia Moseley | Reporter
- Burka Ban: BTN | history
- Explainer: Why do Muslim women wear a burka, niqab or hijab?: ABC News | weblink
- Ramadan Begins: Behind the News | history
- Guide: What is Ramadan?: CBBC Newsround | weblink
- Australia | Map
- Hijab Day | Worksheet
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