A new hashtag is trending on Twitter today with the intention of uplifting the voices of Muslim women, a group generally silenced, during Women’s History Month.
#MuslimWomensDay was started by the website Muslim Girl to specifically bring awareness to the resilience and strength of Muslim women in the face of criticism and bigotry based on their religion, dress, and gender.
Your guide to #MuslimWomensDay ❤ pic.twitter.com/UdzyQuPnTR
— Muslim Girl (@muslimgirl) March 27, 2017
Not just an internet movement, even the Orlando City Council voted to officially recognize Muslim Women’s Day. “Muslim women play an integral role in the economic, cultural, and social development in our community,” the council’s proclamation reads. “The city of Orlando celebrates the diversity of its residents and is proud that Orlando is a welcoming, inclusive community.”
Throughout the day on Twitter, #MuslimWomensDay was full of Muslim women celebrating each other, as well as others recognizing Muslim women’s power and worth.
https://twitter.com/MuslimahMontage/status/846366934878740480
https://twitter.com/auroratsuki/status/846442914972667904
Happy #MuslimWomensDay! Let’s center voices of Muslim women & not trolls who wish to silence us by pushing a perverse version women’s rts.
— Rana Elmir 🍉🇵🇸 (@elmirana) March 27, 2017
Ive always wanted othr minorities 2c thmselves in spaces outside of cultural norms.We cn b athletes too ~ @IbtihajMuhammad #muslimwomensday pic.twitter.com/icTV3BqUqr
— Rana (@RanaKadiri) March 27, 2017
#MuslimWomensDay – start following more Muslim women activists, writers, artists. We are not a monolith- nor are we a clique.
— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) March 27, 2017
Happy #MuslimWomensDay! Let’s celebrate and uplift the stories of Muslim women in our lives 🎉 pic.twitter.com/3G8lk0L2LD
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 27, 2017
Yes, we do exist! :) #MuslimWomensDay #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/Xe8aojl7po
— Azisa Noor (@azisanoor) March 27, 2017
Like all hashtags, though, dissenters and trolls have attempted to overtake it.
#MuslimWomensDay – Why are feminists celebrating the veil – a garment Muslim feminist groups have been trying to discard for 100 years?
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) March 27, 2017
Because it’s #MuslimWomensDay, here are Muhammad’s not so nice words about women and prayer. Linda Sarsour won’t tell you this info. -VJ pic.twitter.com/FnoiCBkIfU
— RealVinnieJames (@RealVinnieJames) March 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/sandraldevine/status/846443665727897600
https://twitter.com/billmaryy/status/846443628780138496
While the entire point of Muslim Women’s Day is for Muslim women to do the speaking, not adhering to the memo is what trolls do. Thankfully, the celebrated don’t have time for the hate.
Trolls out here tryna push the oppression narrative, but I’ve only ever known strong, independent & driven Muslim women #muslimwomensday pic.twitter.com/5A29JxWbDL
— A. (@SomalAyan) March 27, 2017
