Hijab: 'It's our choice and our identity'

For Shreen Mahmood, widening the discussion on wearing the hijab cannot come soon enough, after she faced discrimination and hatred for doing so.

"Someone commented on one of my social media posts, saying I should be suffocated with my hijab, this really shocked me and upset my daughters," she said.

Ms Mahmood is now using her experiences to launch a new podcast, Hijabi Roundtable, with the aim of creating a space for discussion, support, and education.

She said the project was long overdue, despite the growing online conversations about identity and the choice to wear the religious item.

Ms Mahmood said the podcast was necessary and a safe space for women to open up about the challenges they face by wearing a hijab which include discrimination and misconceptions.

It comes as campaigners mark World Hijab Day on Saturday, to promote acceptance of the religious headwear.

According to the 2021 Census, 9.6% of people in the West Midlands identify as Muslim, compared to 6.7% in 2011.

In Birmingham, that number rises to 29.9%.

While not all Muslim women wear the hijab, campaigners said these conversations were important in challenging stereotypes.

One of those involved in the project is TV chef Mia Dia who has a cookery show on the Islam Channel.

She described being mocked and laughed at for wearing her headscarf.

She told BBC News: "My hijab is more than just a piece of cloth, I remember one occasion when I shared my cookery clips on my Instagram account and someone said they can't learn from me when I've got that on my head".

The two women have taken their conversations to the streets of Birmingham and set up a pop-up stand to invite passers-by to try on hijabs.

Many people took part, with some saying they had never considered what it was like to wear one.

Barbara, who was out shopping with a friend said: "I have never worn a hijab before, it feels a bit strange but I don't think I've got it on right", she went on to say it was nice and it shouldn't be for one community but for everyone.

Sue, whose grandson is Muslim, tried on a hijab for the first time during the city centre event and said: "It's surprisingly very comfortable and keeps my ears warm and I think what these ladies are doing here today is excellent and a good way to increase understanding."

Ms Mahmood said the response from the public had been encouraging but that more work was needed to tackle misunderstanding.

Ms Dia agreed, adding that she hoped more people would take the time to ask questions and listen to real experiences.

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