NEW YORK – As some western media continues to portray Hijabi Muslim women as suppressed, the World Hijab Day in its seventh version hopes to correct misconceptions with its hashtag #FreeinHijab.

“#FreeInHijab is the much-needed hashtag for our current global situation where women in hijab are labeled by media as oppressed and symbolically imprisoned,” Nazma Khan told Anadolu Agency.

Khan, a New York native, initiated this global movement with the intent of bringing awareness on a subject that’s very dear to her and millions of Muslim women across the globe.

While growing up in NYC, she was harassed both physically and emotionally on numerous occasions. The presence of such discrimination heightened around 9/11 because of her human right to wear the hijab.

Consequently, on February 1st, 2013, she asked her fellow sisters of all faiths across the globe to don the hijab for one day.

In its seventh version, the brainchild of New York-based Nazma Khan, comes under the motto, “Breaking Stereotypes | Shattering Boundaries.”

This year, the event is expected to be marked across over 140 countries.

Psychology and human services junior Asma Hassan said World Hijab Day is a great way to explain more about her religion.

“It’s a celebration of wearing the hijab,” Hassan said. “It’s about celebrating the culture of being Muslim and the religious beliefs behind it.”

Organizers also hope the event would also dispel rumors and false information about wearing the hijab.

“I think it’s right aligning with feminist ideals,” Hassan said.

“Essentially, wearing a hijab is not for anybody besides yourself. It’s your own personal values. It’s your own relationship. So, I think it strongly aligns with feminism. I think it gives women the power to choose what they want to do.”