Muslim women from New York City denounce Islamophobia
Muslim women from New York City have come together to raise awareness about Islamic values and to oppose religious discrimination amid rising Islamophobia in the US.
The activists gathered on Monday in front of the New York City Hall in Manhattan to warn about the rising violence against Muslim women by anti-Islamic bigots, Press TV reports.
The rally and press conference was held on the World Hijab Day, an annual event that takes place on February 1 in 116 participating countries.
The Hijab Day, first celebrated in 2013, is a worldwide event that encourages Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear the hijab.
Those who gathered described the spiritual significance of the hijab as well as the climate of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.
While opponents of Islam portray hijab as discriminatory and oppressive, Muslims say it is worn by choice and is an empowering practice that protects one’s dignity and pride.
“Allah (God) tell us that the hijab is what protects us, so I feel that if I wear the hijab, my God will protect me and I know that I’ll be safe,” said Pahema Popi, a Muslim American student in New York.
The rally was also attended by non-Muslim peace activists, including Sara Flounders of the International Action Center.
“Today we are here standing in solidarity with Muslim women in the US who are under attack, who face discrimination, daily offences simply for being Muslim,” Flounders told Press TV.
Islamophobia has recently spiked in the US following the recent mass shootings in California and Paris that were falsely blamed on followers of the Islamic faith.
Anti-Muslim comments by some Republican presidential candidates, especially Donald Trump and Ben Carson, have also increased anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.
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