We were on the train home from the city. A family of four, two kids aged 10 and 7. We had come home from a Friday night celebration, not that I remember what we celebrated. That’s when he walked onto our carriage smelling of something foul. He walked up and down the carriage murmuring something, not that I could hear what he said. My mum held my hand tighter, my dad held my brother tighter, as I stood oblivious to the mutterings of the man. After a few minutes of walking up and down he started pointing. I thought at the people behind us wearing extravagant jerseys obnoxiously celebrating the win of their footy team. He pointed at us. Soon murmurs turned to yells. Soon pointing turned to slurs. Soon my parents' grip grew tighter and tighter. He kept yelling, I think at me. I was 10. I was 10 when a random man walked onto the same carriage as me shouting at my 7 year old brother. Why? Because my mother had the strength to wear a headscarf in a world where people have the audacity to yell at a family of four with a 7 year old child.
For 1400 years, politicians with hateful hearts have continuously enforced fear-mongering laws against Islam. They have made incessant efforts to create a world where Islam becomes synonymous with terrorism. An effort that has unfortunately succeeded in many countries. Since the 7th century, Muslims have been hated for their beliefs. Skepticism has been associated with Islamic practices. As we move into a modern era of so-called individualism, multiculturalism and diversity, you would want to believe that this islamaphobic plague didn’t rule the world anymore. However, this is certainly not the case and Belgium shows exactly this as colleges ban the use of hijabs, stopping thousands from receiving an education purely on some islamaphobic teachings. Outraged at the university, students and allies have gone out onto the Belgium streets to march for their basic human rights. Calling the law exactly what it is - bullshit.
In June, the Belgium constitutional court ruled a law prohibiting religious symbols - including the hijab. Universities around the country enforced this, adding fuel to the already burning fire. However, the Belgium government is nowhere near one of the first to raise their thoughts on the synonymity of Muslims and terrorism in their hateful brains, prominent figures in the media constantly preach the dangers of Islam, including those in positions of power or government around the world. Not exclusive to the constitutional court of Belgium. Government figures, including Trump and Australia’s Pauline Hanson, have continuously made strides to prevent Muslims from safely practising their religion during their years in power
The same countries which preach their multiculturalism have persistently made laws endangering the lives of Muslims and preventing the rightful expression of one’s beliefs. Freedom of religion has been a listed UN human rights for decades. It is something that should not even be thought twice to prevent. Since 1975, Italians have been banned from wearing the burqa or any face-covering materials. In 2011, French government conservatives announced that any women to be seen with the burqa or any face-covering clothing would either be fined $43,000 or jailed. France’s explicitness in stating that women were to be banned from face-covering clothes shined a large torch on their islamophobic past and present. Australia’s very own NSW, incessantly pushed for the same ban as the French government, blatantly waving a flag written ‘islamophobic’ in red.
I should have the right to choose what I want to wear. How I want to express my beliefs and my religion. I should have the right to take a train home with my 7-year-old brother and not have someone yell terrorist at me. Muslim women around the world should not be prevented from having an education because they are faithful to their religion. This islamophobic bullshit should not prevent anyone from safely expressing their faith and their beliefs. It should not force people to take to the streets demanding their education because people are uneducated on the freedom of religion. Freedom of religion includes Muslims. Say it with me and educate yourself and others before saying anything but.
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