W

orld Hijab Day on Feb. 1 was celebrated in the aftermath of several incidents. The bombings and shootings perpetrated by the Islamic State (IS) organization in Paris, Istanbul, California, Jakarta and other parts of the world, have placed Muslim women, particularly those wearing the hijab, (hijabi) in a more difficult position. Muslim women started '€œWorld Hijab Day'€ following the 9/11 terrorist acts in the US.

Hijabi have long endured stereotyping across the globe. From Paris to New York, we have heard hijabi being discriminated against or physically attacked because of their appearance, which many associate with terrorism.

Such an attitude and misperception will easily provoke suspicion, resentment, anger and hatred, which may eventually lead to more withdrawal, exclusion or acts of violence.

Therefore, a different attitude should be promoted with regard to women wearing the veil. World Hijab Day, a day of recognition of millions of Muslim women who choose to wear hijab and live in modesty, could be the right time to start it all.

There are at least three things the hijabi can do to change people'€™s mind-set about their religious dress code.

First, they can simply continue their life and their contribution to society. In Indonesia, several ministers, officials, athletes, democracy activists and celebrities wear a hijab. The whole nation is proud of Surabaya'€™s reelected mayor Tri Rismaharini for being named the world'€™s best mayor and of Muslim fashion designer Dian Pelangi, among noted hijabi.

Second, they can take full advantage of powerful social media to tell the world about their work. Finally, the hijabi can take every opportunity to speak in public about the hijab itself, which is a must, because many still consider it part of Arab culture that is being forced against their will on Muslim women across the globe.

There are undoubtedly women who are obliged to wear a hijab, including in Aceh, but more and more women wear it voluntarily.

For the women who wear a hijab by choice, no matter how surprising it may sound, the hijab is a source of liberation and empowerment. They decide to wear the modest clothing and to be valued for what they think and do, rather than what they look like.

In so doing, hijabi will help shatter the long-standing stereotypes. They will prove there are many hijabi who uphold democracy, promote tolerance and peace, work hard for achievements and help others, yet choose to be religiously devoted. The hijab should never hinder Muslim women to explore their potential. In other words, Muslim women can be religiously devoted and '€œcool'€ at the same time.

On the other hand, the rest of the world '€” in this case the people who are non-hijabi and the media '€” can respond to these efforts by doing two things.

First, fairly accept and appreciate the fact that there are many hijabi who are different from what the stereotypes have been saying for long time.

There are , of course hijabi who are corruption convicts or incapable officials. Yet the world should not let appearance cloud their judgment and start to appreciate hijab as a life choice. If some women can demand to be valued by anything but the way they dress, the world should also allow the action and contribution of veiled women to speak louder than their appearance.

Second, help spread this information and images accordingly. Social media and the mainstream media also need to give a voice to these hijabi, in an equal manner to their promotion of the views of unveiled Muslim women such as Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco.

This fairness of exposure will help the world to see an alternative perspective, showing that not only non-hijabi Muslim women can positively contribute to peace and prosperity.

It takes two to tango. Fair and friendly gestures from both sides '€” the hijabi and the rest of the world '€” will more likely nurture trust and mutual understanding.

We can start today, in Indonesia, home of the world'€™s largest Muslim population as well as the world'€™s third-largest democracy, where appreciation of diversity is its founding fathers'€™ fundamental philosophy.
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The writer is a policy planner at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), a co-founder of SabangMerauke, a group focusing on tolerance among youth, and a hijabi. The views expressed are her own.