(CNN)To some, the hijab is a symbol of female oppression and Islamic fundamentalism. But to Nazma Khan, a Muslim who moved from Bangladesh to New York at age 11, the headscarf is a symbol of her religious belief in beauty through modesty. "Modesty is part of our Islamic faith," Khan wrote in an email. "No one should be discriminated (against) for following their faith." So Khan started World Hijab Day to build empathy for this perspective and to encourage non-Muslims, and Muslims who don't normally wear a hijab, to try it out. The Arabic word hijab refers not just to a headscarf but to modest dress and behavior in general.
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World Hijab Day seeks to raise awareness about modest Muslim dress
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The organizer says many women wear hijabs by choice, not because they're forced to
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The headscarf is a way of expressing modesty, a key tenet of the Muslim faith
It's progress for me as a Muslim woman, the next step in my faith," said Khan (no relation to @placeholder).
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