Muslims

Muslims are discriminated in the United States, and constantly seem to fit the profile of terrorist in the media. They are often victim of police brutality as well as the following story mentions:

"Khalia Wilson, aged 12 and 14 respectively, told the New York Daily News that they were thrown to the ground, put in chokeholds, and had their hijabs violently torn off by members of the NYPD, for a reason that remains unclear...The girls recounted that the cops followed them out of the park, and one grabbed Wilson from behind, putting her in a chokehold and wrestling her to the ground. “They said they asked for ID. I didn’t hear them,” reported Wilson. When her sister protested, she was also thrown to the ground, and both sisters’ headscarves were ripped off.

“I kept saying, ‘I’m 14! What are you doing? We’re not bad kids,’” explained Wilson.

A police source painted a wholly different picture, reports the New York Daily News. “The officers told the kids to leave (the park) when they began acting disorderly,” said the source, who added that the police were escorting the teens out of the park when Harris grabbed one of the girls away from the cops."

Muslim Teens Allegedly Beaten By NYPD In Bronx Park; 

Claims Made That Hijabs Were Ripped Off

 Because of anti-Muslim sentiments that increased after 9/11 many Muslim and middle eastern people have been victims of violence and accusations of being terrorist. Wearing the Hijab is part of the culture and is a symbol that is valued in their society. However, in the U.S can mark some women as targets of discrimination. People make assumptions and judge them because of it. I found a video of what it felt like for some non-Muslim women to wear a Hijab. It is not that this is what Muslim feel every single day, but it does give a perspective to people that are not aware of the constant surveillance that they come under. 

 

Furthermore, I do not intend to take away agency from women that do use the Hijab. The following video shows Muslim women talking about who they are, and how the Hijab does not and should not define their entire identity. They express fears that they face everyday as they walk out their homes. At the end of the day they are proud of who they are and are not going to be defined by what they choose to wear on their head.