Bintje
08-11-2006, 11:05
‘Wear a Hijab Day’, US Muslims’ Response to Killing
Sarah Abdullah, Arab News
JEDDAH, 8 November 2006 — Despite attempts by the foreign media to send a message that hate crimes against Muslims are on the decrease worldwide. Evidence shows that the problem is only worsening.
The hijab has been the subject of much attention last month after mother-of-six Alia Ansari, from Fremont in California, was shot dead at pointblank in a Glenmoor neighborhood. Ansari was wearing hijab when she was slain in front of her three-year-old daughter near her home on Oct. 19. She was on her way to collect her children from elementary school.
Some family members and Muslim leaders have speculated that the only motive anyone would have for killing her was the garment of her faith — her hijab — and that the crime was none other but a hate crime against Muslims and Islam.
“Whoever did this did not see Alia Ansari as a mother of six children,” said Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, a well known and respected local Muslim scholar and leader. “ The gunman saw a symbol of what people are taught to hate,” he told the media standing outside Ansari’s home.
The tragedy occurred as Ansari was walking along Central Avenue and Glenmore Drive in Fremont when an unidentified man opened fire killing Alia at point blank range with a single shot to the head.
In response to the tragedy, US Muslim community leaders and the Foundation of Self Reliance are organizing a “Wear a Hijab Day” on Nov. 13 as a symbolic gesture of solidarity in support of Ansari.
Commenting on the Hijab day, the foundation’s executive director told Arab News by e-mail, “Wear a Hijab Day was an idea generated by a concerned community of ethnically and racially diverse women in Fremont, California who wanted to form a collective, symbolic response to the tragic death of Alia Ansari. The community came to me with questions of what could, and what should be done. The Foundation for Self-Reliance is the group organizing this response.”
A special Memorial Fund has also been set up to help the victim’s six children ranging in ages from 2-13 and her husband. Information can be found on the Foundation for Self Reliance website at http://www.efsr.org.
According to the foundations recommendations those wishing to take part in the Hijab Day should wear a loose and long sleeve shirt that covers the wrists; a loose and long pair of pants or skirt that cover the ankles; and a loose and large scarf or shawl that covers the head, the neck, and the shoulders.
BRON:http://www.arabnews.com
Sarah Abdullah, Arab News
JEDDAH, 8 November 2006 — Despite attempts by the foreign media to send a message that hate crimes against Muslims are on the decrease worldwide. Evidence shows that the problem is only worsening.
The hijab has been the subject of much attention last month after mother-of-six Alia Ansari, from Fremont in California, was shot dead at pointblank in a Glenmoor neighborhood. Ansari was wearing hijab when she was slain in front of her three-year-old daughter near her home on Oct. 19. She was on her way to collect her children from elementary school.
Some family members and Muslim leaders have speculated that the only motive anyone would have for killing her was the garment of her faith — her hijab — and that the crime was none other but a hate crime against Muslims and Islam.
“Whoever did this did not see Alia Ansari as a mother of six children,” said Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, a well known and respected local Muslim scholar and leader. “ The gunman saw a symbol of what people are taught to hate,” he told the media standing outside Ansari’s home.
The tragedy occurred as Ansari was walking along Central Avenue and Glenmore Drive in Fremont when an unidentified man opened fire killing Alia at point blank range with a single shot to the head.
In response to the tragedy, US Muslim community leaders and the Foundation of Self Reliance are organizing a “Wear a Hijab Day” on Nov. 13 as a symbolic gesture of solidarity in support of Ansari.
Commenting on the Hijab day, the foundation’s executive director told Arab News by e-mail, “Wear a Hijab Day was an idea generated by a concerned community of ethnically and racially diverse women in Fremont, California who wanted to form a collective, symbolic response to the tragic death of Alia Ansari. The community came to me with questions of what could, and what should be done. The Foundation for Self-Reliance is the group organizing this response.”
A special Memorial Fund has also been set up to help the victim’s six children ranging in ages from 2-13 and her husband. Information can be found on the Foundation for Self Reliance website at http://www.efsr.org.
According to the foundations recommendations those wishing to take part in the Hijab Day should wear a loose and long sleeve shirt that covers the wrists; a loose and long pair of pants or skirt that cover the ankles; and a loose and large scarf or shawl that covers the head, the neck, and the shoulders.
BRON:http://www.arabnews.com