MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberia Muslim Women Network, in collaboration with other Muslim organizations in the country, joined the world in celebrating World Hijab Day from across six counties, including Montserrado, Bassa, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount, Bong, and Maryland.

The celebration of the event started from the January 28th and ended on February 2, 2018 with an indoor celebration. February 1 was the main day of celebration and included a parade through Central Monrovia.

According to Makoma F. Donzo, the head of the organizing team, this year’s global theme was ‘Strong in Hijab,’ demonstrating the strength of women wearing the veil.

Activities scheduled for the celebration aimed to discuss how professional women such as the police, military personnel, and nurses could still wear the veil while maintaining their dress code.

“We are women and our hijab is our pride and our way of life,” Donzo said. “We use this day to celebrate ourselves as women in Hijab and making others feel the life of us wearing the veil.”

According to Muslim tradition, the hijab preserves the dignity of women and World Hijab Day aims to promote the veil and encourage more women (Muslim and non-Muslim) to wear it.

The day is an annual event celebrated on February 1 each year in 140 countries worldwide. It was first celebrated in 2013 and was founded by Nazma Khan from New York.

World Hijab Day also intends to erase some of the stigma associated with wearing the hijab, as the veil has become a symbol of the oppressive traditions and ill-treatment Muslim women experience in conservative majority-Muslim countries.

The day, therefore, is also in recognition of millions of women across the world who chooses to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty.

Featured photo by Mafanta Kromah