Portland State’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) along with the Women’s Resource Center and the Multicultural Center is hosting the Hijabi Monologues tomorrow, Nov. 24.
The show uses real-life stories of Muslim women and presents a soul-searching journey into the lives of the Muslim-Americans.
The MSA aims to create awareness about laws that contradict faith, such as ones banning teachers from wearing religious attire.
While talking about the Hijabi Monologues event, MSA President Erica Aisha Charves said, “There will be a play that emphasizes individualism and a workshop after, [during] which dinner will be served.”
“Many Muslim women share the experience of facing an entire set of assumptions about their faith, politics, preferences, education, class, etc., based on whether they choose to wear, or not to wear, a headscarf,” said a press release for the event.
According to Senate Bill 786, also known as the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act, “No teacher in any public school shall wear any religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher.”
“This bill is against religious rights and restricts Muslim teachers from wearing their headscarf,” Charves said.
After a protest at Pioneer Courthouse Square on the day the law came into force, the Hijabi Monologues event came next in the process of getting the government to revoke the law.
“Many people can’t believe that there is such a law. So we are trying to create awareness among people about the laws that violate religious rights,” Charves said.
The MSA is also teaming up with the Sikh community to fight for their religious rights.