I created this photo series after hearing stories from both the news and people I knew about Muslim women who had experienced negative incidents while wearing headscarves due to the perception of Islam around the world. These stories sparked conversations among friends and family who wear hijabs, and we discussed their relationship with their headscarves and their experiences wearing them in certain places.

Wearing a hijab is meant to bring peace and tranquility, but unfortunately, in some places and situations, it can bring harm and controversy. Some women feel that they must remove their hijabs for their own safety or because they are told to do so, which can make them feel as though their rights are being stripped off. I know of people who take off their hijabs when traveling because they fear that the stigma associated with it could put them in danger.

In this series, I aimed to capture some of the emotions and themes that arose from these conversations. The most important theme was the sense that some women feel like they are losing their right to wear their hijabs, due to pressure or fear. Many of them feel vulnerable when out in public. In one of the photos, a girl is shown having her hijab pulled away from her.
 
I also aimed to capture the idea that wearing a hijab can be a way to seek shelter under a shared belief system.