World Hijab Day

February 1, Wednesday

World Hijab Day is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, taking place on 1 February each year in 140 countries worldwide. Its stated purpose is to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab for a day and to educate and spread awareness on why hijab is worn. Nazma Khan said her goal was also to normalize hijab wearing.

World Hijab Day has been criticized as spreading the misinformation that the head covering is always worn voluntarily, while women in Iran are forced to wear it. It has been noted that 1 February was also the date Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran from his French exile, which subsequently led to the enforcement of mandatory purdah and wearing of hijabs.

World Hijab Day

World Hijab Day in other countries