PRINCE GEORGE – Scores of women in University of Northern British Colombia donned the Muslim hijab for the first time in their life, showing support for Muslim women in the event held in Prince George this week.

“I’m not Muslim, but I just got a hijab put on me by another student,” Dara Campbell told CBC News on Wednesday, March 29.

“There’s a lot of myths and false things that go around about what a hijab means. We should understand other women’s choices.”

The hijabs were tried as part of “Hijab for a Day” event organized by students from the campus women’s center.

During the event, women presided over a box of colorful hijabs, offering women on their way to class a chance to don hijab in campus.

Suggested by student Hira Rashid, the event was an effort to de-stigmatize and demystify the hijab and encourage people to ask questions.

“It’s not just a piece of cloth. It’s not a symbol of oppression,” said Rashid, who used to wear hijab but no longer does.

“It’s a choice. It’s a symbol of free expression.”

“I don’t wear the hijab, but putting it on today, I felt super fierce,” said Yousra Moutii, an environmental engineering student at UNBC, right, with Hira Rashid, left. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC )

Putting on hijab for a first time, social work student Modupe Abioye said it demands a lot of courage to put it.

“It takes a lot of courage to wear it,” said Abioye. “You stand out. People look at you. Some are brave to ask questions, [but] a lot of people are looking at me and looking away.”

“People shouldn’t be judged for what they put on their head,” said Abioye.

“That shouldn’t be any reason for people to hit you, judge you, give you some nasty words. Having it on doesn’t make you a jihadist.”

Another student, Anna Saenz, modelled her borrowed hijab for friends.

“It’s really cool,” said Saenz. “The more you know about it, the less afraid you are of it.”

For Muslim students, who put hijab every day, the event was a chance to fight negative media concept of the Islamic attire.

“In class, when you’re the only person wearing it, it’s a bit awkward. Especially now, when you get so much negative feedback in the media,” said Maria Amir.

“But when you see so many people [in a hijab], it feels really good.”