Here’s hoping #MuslimWomensDay becomes an annual event…
You might have noticed a new hashtag trending on Twitter over the past 24 hours, as March 27 marked the world’s first ever Muslim Women’s Day.
Timed to coincide with the end of Women’s History Month in the US, Muslim Women’s Day was the brainchild of 24-year-old Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, who is also the driving force behind the Muslim Girl website.
In the face of Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, and with other movements like the Women’s March already dominating headlines, Amani wanted to provide a platform to empower Muslim women.
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“We think it’s important to elevate Muslim women’s voices, especially in this moment,” Amani writes on her website.
“With the hype around the Women’s March and the national conversation taking place around the Muslim Ban both in the United States and around the world, it’s time to hear from a community that’s often talked about but rarely given the chance to speak.”
Amani partnered with dozens of media outlets to share stories highlighting the real experiences of Muslim women, and the hashtag #MuslimWomensDay was soon trending worldwide.
In this picture I only see power. #muslimwomensday pic.twitter.com/UykX3qEiQ7
— سارة العطار (@SaraAlattarx) March 27, 2017
Celebrating strong and inspiring women like @NobelPrize laureate Malala Yousafzai on #MuslimWomensDay. RT if you are with us! cc @MalalaFund pic.twitter.com/Qjxg9gr1Up
— UN Women (@UN_Women) March 27, 2017
Yes, we do exist! 🙂 #MuslimWomensDay #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/Xe8aojl7po
— Azisa Noor (@azisanoor) March 27, 2017
The movement wasn’t limited to the internet, either. Even the Orlando City Council in Florida, USA voted to officially recognise Muslim Women’s Day.
Mayor Buddy Dyer said in the proclamation: “Muslim women play an integral role in the economic, cultural, and social development. Muslim women in Orlando represent some of Orlando’s community leaders and serve as exceptional role models in all professions.”
While it was a day for both Muslim and non-Muslim women to celebrate each other and share the love, as expected, the trolls were also out in full force.
But, as demonstrated in this tweet, those being celebrated were able to rise above the noise.
The vitriol, venom, hate on the #MuslimWomensDay hashtag tells you why we need to celebrate Muslim women. Keep shining ladies ⭐️
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) March 27, 2017
