THE UKRAINIAN MUSLIMAHS LEAGUE HELD EVENTS FOR WORLD HIJAB DAY

Всесвітній день хіджабу в ІКЦ міста Києва

Activists of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League organized a number of events in different cities of Ukraine for Hijab Day. So, the event at the Islamic Cultural Center of Kyiv attracted about 80 people. The program consisted of: contests, quizzes, a lecture on hijab, and a master class on various ways of wearing a hijab.World Hijab Day in Kyiv

 

The present non-Muslim women had the opportunity to meet the followers of Islam and discuss the problems they face. Also, a Muslim fashion show was held: girls in the national clothes of Muslim nations paraded on an improvised podium. Each walkout was accompanied by applause from the audience.

 

День хіджабу в ІКЦ м. КиєваAccording to Amal Tkachenko, a member of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League, some of the present non-Muslim women were quite well acquainted with the history of Islam and the essence of the creed, so it can be said that such cultural and educational events do have an effect.

 

In Odesa, activists of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League talked about the image of a woman in world art, the history of the hijab, and the tradition of veiling in different nations of the world – from antiquity to the present. After that, there was a quiz with prizes, and everyone who wanted, had an opportunity to try on hijab and traditional Muslim clothes.World Hijab Day in Odesa

 

According to World Hijab Day in Kyiv, a member of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League, they prepared presentations about the hijab and showed the guests fashionable ways to wear it, so that they could see for themselves how comfortable this outfit is:

 

День хіджабу в ІКЦ м. Одеса“Organizing such an event is an opportunity to tell people about our religion, about the hijab, about a woman in a hijab, and thus reduce the level of stereotypical thinking in Ukraine. Such information will help non-Muslims to better understand Muslims and the Islamic religion, and us, Ukrainians, to find a common language and be united.”

 

In Lviv, World Hijab Day in Lvivthe guests of the event organized by activists of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League were mostly non-Muslim women. This corresponds to the main goal of the day: to convey undistorted information about the hijab to followers of other religions, to disprove misconceptions, to talk about the rights of Muslim women. The attendees learned, in particular, that Islam actually gives a woman inner freedom.

 

As Dinara Amrullaeva, an activist of the Ukrainian Muslimahs League, reported, the program also included stories about the tradition of covering up, which women in Ukrainian society have long followed.день хіджабу у Львові

 

“The guests learned about the women’s clothing of the nations of the Muslim world. Competitions and quizzes also helped to consolidate knowledge about the rights and status of women in Islam. Those present enjoyed trying to put a hijab, painting [hands] with mehendi, and trying on the image of a veiled Muslim woman. The women were photographed in special photo zones, and they were treated to sweets and hot drinks,” said Ms. Dinara.

 

день хіджабу у Львовідень хіджабу у ЧернівцяхAccording to the head of the League, Niyara Mamutova, who took part in the organization of the event in Chernivtsi, the guests learned about the meaning of the hijab for followers of Islam, and Muslim women were once again reminded of their right to dress according to the precepts of the creed:

 

“This time we prepared a culturally educational program, we talked about different types of traditional clothing, which includes the hijab. The guests thanked us for the event, there were also new displaced sisters . The women did not know about the organization of the holiday in advance, but agreed to continue gathering.”день хіджабу у Чернівцях

 

Mrs. Mamutova noted that such events are of great importance to the non-Muslim community.

Hijab Day’s a good reason to present headscarves

День хіджабу — прекрасна нагода дарувати хустки

Activists of Ukrainian Muslimahs’ League (UML) held an event in the heart of Kyiv on the occasion of World Hijab Day. Nazma Khan, an American Bengali, founded the event several years ago. Since then, millions of women around the world celebrate this day every year.

 

On February 1, UML activists held a photo exhibition about successful Muslim women.

 

“First of all, we have launched this initiative to show the people that it is Muslim woman’s personal preference of wearing a headscarf,” says Olena Myronenko, one of the event launchers.

 

In addition to the exhibition, the activists held a workshop on tying the scarf on the head. They offered the passers―-by to try on a hijab and take a photo in a new look. Olena Myronenko said the idea was women who decided to try on the hijab could feel like Muslims at least for a while. And despite the frosty weather there were a lot of those wanted to see how they looked like in hijab.

 

“It’s sensible and pleasant,” admits Maryna, one of participants in out of the box event held by Muslimahs. — But it’s more than that. I have always wondered how Muslim women tied the headscarf so beautifully. And now I know that there are some secrets. Besides, covering hair is correct both according Muslims and Christianity beliefs.

 

Another event participant, Olha, has put on a hijab for the first time. She smiles while setting the headscarf:

 

“I really like it,” the girl says, looking at herself in the mirror. “Firstly, it is very comfortable, and secondly, it is warm, my ears are fine. I would even go around outside like that. I think hijab is also comfortable in summer.

 

These and similar reviews prevailed among women who took part in the event held by Ukrainian Muslimahs’ League. In activists’ opinion it only went to show that such events were urgently needed:

 

“This gives us an opportunity to break certain stereotypes about Muslim women,” says Suzanna Islyamova, UML activist. “In addition, we once again emphasized that the hijab is primarily of spiritual significance. This is not just part of Muslim woman’s’ appearance.

 

Let us recall, that in the next two weeks, Ukrainian Muslimahs’ League are to hold Hijab Days in several other cities of Ukraine.