‘World Obsession with Hijab Rooted in Racism, Islamophobia’
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Ibtihaj Muhammad pointed to some of the challenges that Muslim women face, especially in sports.
“Historically, the world has been obsessed with the hijab for whatever reason”, she said.
“I think that it is rooted in racism. I think it is rooted in Islamophobia. It’s not really about the hijab”.
Back in 2016, she became the first Muslim American woman to compete for the United States wearing a hijab at the Olympics. She earned a bronze medal at the Rio Games.
Studying African American history at Duke University as a student paved the way for Muhammad to create her own path as a Muslim African American female athlete and find her purpose as an athlete.
“It’s easy to get caught up in this hustle and bustle of life where it can be so self-focused,” she said. “Through sport and learning about the history of people like Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali and Althea Gibson, I had the opportunity to understand that my journey is bigger than me and I can actually create meaningful change with my platform if I choose to do so”.
In order to reach the Olympics in the first place Muhammad had to break down external barriers that she faced due to race and religion, but she has also spoken about having to overcome internal struggles with depression and performance anxiety.
Since winning her medal at the 2016 Olympics she has published her autobiography in which she details these experiences.
With her work and projects taking her around the world, she also feels close to Muslim communities and their struggles beyond the United States. “As a Muslim, you feel obviously very, very attached to what’s happening in Palestine, what’s happening in China [with the treatment of Uighur Muslims], or the recent police killing that happened in France, I happened to be there.”
Source: Agencies
