It's a Hijab, not bottleneck

YBOR--Whether it is striking up a host of cordial chin wag with her classmates, engaging in her classes or walking about campus,Tamara Ibrahim is doing this and more all while cladding a hijab, a religious head scarf for Muslim women.

“It’s ok, they (Americans) are getting used to see me wearing Hijab, I am wearing Hijab since I was at my country, since this I have never taken off hijab,” said the 20-year-old student.

Hailed from The Palestinian Territories, Ibrahim is about to kick off her regular classes after wrapping up her EAP English classes which have lasted for over a year.

“I am always trying to participate in my classes, especially while donning Hijab,” said Ibrahim.

Asked if her American friends mention her hijab, Ibrahim replied not one of her classmates have asked her why she is wearing a hijab.

“They don’t ask me at all, some students already have backgrounds why we (Muslim women) are wearing Hijab.”

“On the contrary, Spanish-speaking students are always asking me lot," said Ibrahim. "They want to know why I am wearing Hijab. But what shocks me is some American students keep looking at me in an astounded way. I hate that.”

Islam sees Hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

Ibrahim is not the sole Muslim student donning Hijab at the HCC campuses, “We have four Hijab-cladding students who hailed from Palestinians territories and Egypt,” she said.

Despite studying for more than a year at HCC, Ibrahim is still unsure to join one of her campus' clubs, but she denied her hijab is the paramount reason for staying out of the clubs.

“I just want to know what kinds of activities they have, if I am interested in joining one of them, I will go,” said Ibrahim.

She sees HCC as a Muslim-friendly college, adding Muslim students can do everything and enroll at any class they aspire.

“The HCC is OK, but I don’t know other universities,” Ibrahim said.

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5 comments

Your name

Fri Nov 20 2009 19:18

hijab is like the swastika - it symbolizes fascist Islamism

if Ibrahim had any respect and tolerance for us freethinkers and non-believers and infidels, she would not wear a hijab which means death to non-believers in Islam.

A Muslim Apostate. Hamid

Your name

Sun Nov 8 2009 15:22

hi
nice othman, i thnk u r now advocate now , but sure you see it so, rethink

but all in all nive work go ahead

AH, foreign desk, MENA

Na muslim women

Sat Nov 7 2009 21:41

Nice work , as a Muslim woman I think that wearing Hijab does not mean that we do not have our own life or because of it we are different this is our religion and we do it because we believe in it. I think now a days people all around start to understand that the way we dress is part of our religion and our culture. there is a lot of people ask me about the Hijab a lot of them like the way the Hejab look they ask many question such as from where you get them / since when do you wear it.... etc I just want to say for all Muslim women with Hijab there is nothing wrong to have your Hejab talk about your Hejab and your religion and your culture it does represent you and everyone in the world have there own religion and culture and we are not any different thanks again

lolo

Thu Nov 5 2009 16:02

i like it

Mike

Thu Nov 5 2009 07:23

Nice Story

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