Baig, F. (2021, June 27). “When we embrace our hijab, we embrace death:” Canadian-Muslims balance faith, safety. CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/when-we-embrace-our-hijab-we-embrace-death-canadian-muslims-balance-faith-safety-1.5487468 

Discrimination against Muslim women who wear the hijab has increased across Canada. As a result, Muslim women are learning to navigate between their faith and safety. Some Muslim women have engaged in self-defence classes, while others have removed their hijabs after violent encounters – despite them knowing that the hijab is a form of worship to them. The fear was amplified especially after the London, Ontario attack, where 4 Muslims were killed because of their faith. Although there is growing fear amongst Muslim women, some held on to their religious convictions. Some women have also reported feeling angry as there is lack of accountability and responsibility from the government regarding the rise of hate crimes and discrimination against Muslims.

The Teaching Against Islamophobia resources were developed with funding support from the Law Foundation of BC, and the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies at SFU.

Image credit: “Hijab woman Liverpool” by Wendy Slattery from Birkenhead, England is licensed under CC BY 2.0.