My thoughts on attacks against Hijabi women.

The recent attacks on hijabis teaches modest women to be scared and ashamed.

After the tragedy in Paris, bigots are boxing away Muslim women in hijabs and breaking out their resentment. But as women across the country advance with their rights and freedoms, bigots and extremists are ramping up their efforts to scare and shame Muslim women. Are our hijabs so disturbing for the public to be expected to comport themselves with tolerance and respect? It is the season of hate mongering and racial violence - so instead of arresting these criminals, Toronto Police is enforcing arbitrary rules that teach women to be ashamed of their faith and religious clothing.

I am so tired of people who make Muslim women feel violated and ashamed because they are wearing a hijab and covering their body. Take the example of a young woman who was punched and beaten in broad day light near a public school. It's not just the streets that make for problematic interactions for covered Muslim women. Every day on the subways, in the parking lots, and at the malls, people disproportionately target, shame and punish Muslim women in hijabs for their modesty. Is showing hair and cleavage the new price for citizenship? Will I be more Canadian if I wore a risque outfit?

To assuage the supposed racial attacks, Muslim women are removing their hijabs. This assumes that Muslim women should be scared and that their faith doesn't rate consideration. Many women like myself, have been wearing hijabs for decades, since we were 10 and 11 years old. We cannot be expected to undress ourselves because our modesty offends people. Removing hijab would have an immensely painful and scarring affect. Perhaps racists, who truly cannot change their narrow views, should be mandated to stay at home so they are not around hijabi women who provoke them.

Sounds ridiculous right? So is pulling and cutting swaths of fabric off a women's body with hope that it will correct worlds' issues. It will not!

We should, instead, try not to take out our political frustrations on Muslim women - we are, in fact, in no way responsible for the tragedy in Paris, nor do we have the power to change anything. The onus cannot be on hijabi women. Attacking hijabi women does not inhibit terrorists.  Muslim women can walk down anywhere in a swimsuit and there will still be terrorists. Hijabi women are not the problem. Politics is.