3 NewsThe CatamountThursday, April 2, 2015 ●

Islamic headcoverings reflect teachings of modesty

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And contrary to some misconceptions about hijabs and their role in Islam, Nadia Akram’s decision was ac-cepted by others in the Muslim community. Nabihah Akram understands too, even though she does wear the hijab, and has done so since the age of 11.

“I know people who don’t wear the scarf who are better Muslims than me, in my opinion,” Nabihah Akram said. “Just because someone chooses not to wear it doesn’t mean that they’re not a good Muslim. It’s hard in America [to wear a hijab] with 9/11, with the Chapel Hill shootings, with all these things happening.”

Events of terrorism, along with the often misleading media coverage of them, contribute to wrong impres-sions about the Muslim community. Both Islamophobia and more innocent misunderstandings of Islam can make wearing the hijab, an obvious indicator of faith, diffi cult.

Nabihah Akram tries to be accommodating to rude comments or other forms of discrimination.

“[At airports] they always stop me and say, ‘We just need to check you,’ and honestly, I’m okay with that,” she said. “I understand if people feel safer by doing that. I don’t feel like it’s worth my time hating that.”

However, the stereotypes behind racial profi ling are still a problem, and they often are the effects of the media.

“I would say 9/11 was the concrete that set the foun-dation of the misinterpretations of Islam,” junior Raza Rahman said. “Now with stuff like ISIS, people see that in the news, but they don’t see humanitarian Islamic groups

in the news. There are defi nitely good groups out there, but they aren’t as publicized.”

Hussein agrees that people will associate negative stories with Islam since these stories are often the only ones reported.

“Whatever gets attention and whatever makes a great story, that’s what the media will bring to the people,” Hus-sein said. “The media is obviously not going to write about a Muslim who prays, who feeds his neighbor, who takes care of people--they’re not going to write about that.”

All of these misconceptions can affect the way people perceive the religion and those who practice it. Junior Sa-mana Askari began wearing the hijab in elementary school at the age of nine, and it was not until she met Nabihah Akram in intermediate school that she found someone else who wore it. Before then, she used to face occasional dis-crimination.

“It doesn’t happen as often, but I remember in ele-mentary school when people would say really ugly things about it,” Askari said. “But, I understand that not every-one comes from a background where they can get to know about other religions.”

Despite the hostility that Muslims can face, Nabihah Akram still maintains hope that as the Muslim community works together, they can educate the public.

“I want people to know that we are just like everyone else,” Nabihah said. “We go to the same restaurants, we read the same books, we go to the same classes and we become the same professions. We’re just like you guys. All we have is a scarf around our heads.” ●

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In addition to the hijab, there are other types of Muslim headwear that women wear. Here’s

the breakdown on some:

HIJAB NIQABNIQAB

CHADORKHIMAR

ALL KINDS OF COVERS

Headscarf that covers the head and covers the head and neck, leaving the face neck, leaving the face

clear.

Covers all of ►the face, except for the face, except for

the eyes. Com-monly worn in Arab countries.

Source: channel4.com; Illustrations by LIsa Liu

Full-body cloak, Full-body cloak, ►►usually black. Those usually black. Those usually black. Those who wear it must who wear it must who wear it must hold it closed in hold it closed in front of them.

◄ Covers the hair, neck and shoulders. Ex-

tends to elbows tends to elbows tends to elbows or beyond.

HIJAB

◄covers the head and neck, leaving the face

Covers all of the face, except for

the eyes. Com-

Arab countries.