"Wear a Hijab/Turban Day" Observed in Fremont
By Becca MacLaren

Fremont, CA: Last Monday, November 13 some Bay Area women-no matter their religious beliefs- added a new element to their morning routine: they donned the Muslim headscarf that may have motivated the murder of a Fremont mother last month.
These women-and the men who cover their heads with a hat, yarmulke or turban-wore headscarves to honor the Afghan-born woman and demonstrate solidarity with her community.
"Wear a Hijab/Turban Day" was celebrated worldwide last Monday. In Fremont, the event included a noontime gathering at Central Park where participants observed an international moment of silence for victims of violence.
A diverse panel of community leaders, including Fremont's mayor and the executive director of American Muslim Voice, a Newark-based group, lead a talk on building a culture of peace and acceptance. American Muslim Voice distributed headscarves to attendees, who had an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts.
The gathering honored the memory of Alia Ansari, 38, a Fremont resident shot in the middle of the day on Oct. 19 while walking down the street with her 3-year-old daughter. Ansari was on her way to pick up two other children at their elementary school and was wearing a hijab, the traditional headscarf worn by devout Muslim women.
Though the case remains under investigation, Ansari's relatives and local Muslim leaders believe the killing was motivated by hate. They can think of no other explanation for why someone would shoot the mother of six-other than that she was wearing a hijab.
Ansari's murder has brought people of different faiths and perspectives together from across the Bay Area… (Courtesy North Gate News Online)

 

 

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