I never knew there will be a time I'll be afraid to put on my Hijab until I entered the university. Schooling in the southern part of the country can be a big issue for Muslims because we are identified as a religion of violence and Muslims are minority. It's a place where my hijab gives me an identity of an oppressed woman and a tool for carrying out terrorist actions. It saddens me to know that this is the perspective of people about Islam and I never knew how to defend my religion but fortunately, my friends taught me how to and that is by speaking out so they can know the truth.
It was a sunny afternoon after lecture when my friends and I decided to walk down to the main gate of the university. We do not mind the sun heat on our skin because we were walking in groups and also discussing. On getting to the main gate the security man at the gate asked me to stop and remove my hijab before I will be allowed to pass, my friend and I were surprised so I told him I can't remove my hijab. He asked why and I told him that my hijab is my pride and Identity. He was surprised I spoke back and he said "so that was the reason why your people are killing our brothers in the northern part of the country and you want to destroy here too." His words hurt me and I wanted to cry but I held myself back. I've never felt like this before and I don't know why this time was different, before I could talk my non Muslim friends stepped in and defended me. They said "my hijab has nothing to do with terrorism neither my religion, as a security man of the university your job is to protect every single student of the school and not make them feel less human. So next time stop asking them questions because they are human beings like us and they deserve fair treatment." Hearing this, the security man looked at me and said "I'm sorry." That was the first time someone told me I'm sorry for calling me an oppressed woman or calling me a terrorist. This got me thinking and I realise that if I don't speak up for myself and fight for Justice and Peace and let people know that it's not about us fighting each other or trying to create an identity for ourselves that we can live in this world peacefully but us trying to understand diversity and embracing it because that is the only way we can create a peaceful word and a better society for the future generation.
I decided to join YALI Cross River after the incident because it a platform that I can use to make awareness and solve problems in our society. I decided that I'm going to use the platform to make sure that will live peacefully in our society. We organise events where we make people aware of what diversity is and how we can embrace each other's culture and know more about each other. This awareness makes people know the need for us to embrace and tolerate each other's differences. During the awareness I get to meet a lot of people that asked me why am putting on the hijab and this gives me the opportunity to spread the truth of my religion and it helps to reduce the stereotype about Islam. It also gives me the opportunity to advocate for gender discrimination and other injustice or violence in the society.
I realise that the only way we can change our society is to fight for what is right at all times. It is not just about us or our identity because we are not the only ones here and others matter too. We have not get there yet but we can create the world we want by speaking out and making people understand that we can do it together. If we choose to keep quiet and do nothing we are not only destroying our own generation but we are destroying the future generations which may be the generation of our sisters or brothers, our daughters or sons and we would not want them to live in that world where they won't be able to live without being called a terror or discriminate due to their gender or in a world where injustice is a norm. By advocating for SDG16 we make people understand that it's time for us to talk and do. If we can save our generation then we are creating a safe world for our future generation, A world where we all can live peacefully.
I can't do it alone. You can't do it alone but together we can achieve this, thanks to my friends I was able to realise the power of togetherness because all we just need to understand is that we are one.