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Tuesday 26 Jan 2016 - 12:01 Makkah mean time-16-4-1437
Image from Metro News Canada. Ashley Levy (right) is fitted with a Hijab at the Hijab Day event at the Halifax Central Library.
Ottawa, Canada (IINA) - City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) in Ottawa, Canada had invited non-Muslim women to wear a hijab for "Ottawa Hijab Day," Metro News Canada reported.
CAWI posted details for “Ottawa Hijab Day” on its Facebook page on Friday. On Feb. 25, women are encouraged to wear the traditional headdress as a show of support and respect for Muslims.
An Ottawa group’s invitation to wear a hijab in solidarity with Muslim women has spurred dozens of anti-Islamic and xenophobic comments on social media.
As of Monday, more than 40 people had commented on the event – and most scoffed at the idea or posted anti-Islamic notes.
CAWI says it’s “outraged” by the “offensive” comments and will take them down. “We believe that women should have the right to choose what they wear,” said Tong Zhao-Ansari, the group’s community engagement coordinator, noting that people have a right to their opinion but there’s a “bottom line.”
World Hijab Day, which started on Feb. 1, 2013, is intended to raise awareness and nurture religious tolerance by encouraging women to wear the headdress for one day.
The organization does not see the hijab as a religious requirement, but believes it’s up to each Muslim woman to decide whether or not to wear the garb. Alia Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) said almost half of Muslim women do not cover their hair, so donning the headdress is not a necessary act of solidarity.
“There are so many (other) ways,” she said. “Smile at Muslims who walk around the street. Be nice. If you have neighbours, invite them to your house.”
SM/IINA
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