World Headscarf Day

World Headscarf Day is an international day of awareness observed annually on 1 February with the aim of increasing societal awareness of Muslim women who wear headscarves, making visible the prejudices surrounding the headscarf and strengthening understanding between different faiths and cultures. The event is carried out through symbolic and public activities designed to foster understanding of the everyday experiences faced by women who wear headscarves.

Origins and Historical Background

World Headscarf Day was initiated in 2013 by Nazma Khan, a Bangladeshi-born social activist living in the United States. Following her own experiences of discrimination in education and public life due to wearing a headscarf during her childhood and youth, Khan declared this day to encourage recognition of the headscarf as a personal choice. The first event was held on 1 February 2013 and gradually expanded in subsequent years to other countries, acquiring an international character.

Purpose and Scope

The primary objective of World Headscarf Day is to draw attention to the prejudice, discrimination and exclusionary attitudes faced by Muslim women who wear headscarves in public life. The day emphasizes that the headscarf is a religious, cultural and personal choice and seeks to challenge the stereotype that this choice is incompatible with women’s participation in education, employment and public life. Events are planned to be open to participation by both Muslim and non-Muslim women.

Date of Commemoration and Forms of Celebration

World Headscarf Day events are held annually on 1 February. Activities take various forms including headscarf-wearing challenges, informational meetings, panel discussions and workshops, public marches and social media campaigns. In some countries, educational institutions, civil society organizations and local governments also organize activities.

International Spread

Over the years, World Headscarf Day has been observed across a wide geographic range on multiple continents. Numerous countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa host various events. Activities in the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro have centered around educational initiatives, marches and cultural programs.

Institutional and Official Recognition

World Headscarf Day has been officially recognized by institutions in some countries. In the United States, the New York State Senate adopted a resolution recognizing 1 February as “World Headscarf Day”.^【1】 Such recognitions have increased the public visibility of the day and enabled events to be held in official venues.

Reflections in Social Spheres

The experiences of women who wear headscarves in educational institutions, the healthcare sector and public services are among the key issues addressed in the context of World Headscarf Day. In particular, the attitudes faced by women with visible Muslim identities in education and employment are highlighted in events held on this day.

World Headscarf Day Today

Today, World Headscarf Day is commemorated each year through hundreds of activities organized by thousands of volunteers in dozens of countries. The event has evolved into an international day of awareness that moves beyond reducing the headscarf issue to a single-dimensional debate, instead framing it within the context of women’s individual experiences and social positions.