#WISH fights back Islamophobia with "hijab selfies"

Rasa - A group of women in Australia are donning headscarves in support of the country's Muslim population who they say are increasingly being targeted because of their appearance.

News ID: 1332

Date: 07 October 2014 - 16:57

RNA - The 'Women in Solidarity with Hijabis' (WISH) campaign, with more than 26,000 likes on Facebook, encourages women to post "hijab selfies" to "stand in solidarity with Australian Muslim women".

The campaign was started by activist and lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh in the wake of several alleged attacks on Muslim women in Australia. According to Al-Jazeera, a 26-year-old Muslim woman was reportedly physically and verbally attacked last week at a train station. Muslim activists throughout the country say they have seen a "massive spike in racist attacks".

Australian lawmakers are also considering plans to ban women who wear full face-coverings from sitting in public galleries in parliament. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he wished the face-coverings were "not worn" but a day later he stepped in and called on parliament to rethink the plans.

To show support for the Muslim community, many Australian women have shared photos of themselves wearing headscarves under #WISH.

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