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Filipino women lawmakers observe World Hijab Day ahead of Ramadan
New Yorker Nazma Khan started the annual observance in 2013 “as a means to foster personal freedom of religious expression and cultural understanding”
- PUBLISHED: Tue 3 Feb 2026, 2:25 PM
The Philippine House of Representatives (HOR) looked different – its main gallery more vibrant than on ordinary session days – as female Muslim legislators offered colourful head veils to fellow women representatives in observance of the country’s first celebration of World Hijab Day on Monday, ahead of Ramadan 2026.
The hijabs were gladly accepted and worn by HOR members from the chamber’s five Muslim women members in one of the most unique expressions of unity in a body that is more used to fractious debates and political divisions.
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World Hijab Day is an annual event started in 2013 by Bangladeshi-New Yorker, Nazma Khan, who came up with the idea “as a means to foster personal freedom of religious expression and cultural understanding” by inviting women from all walks of life to experience the hijab for one day on February 1st annually. The first Hijab Day and Halal Festival, however, was observed on February 2 as February 1 was a Sunday, a non-working day in the Philippines.
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The Philippines passed Republic Act No. 12224 on June 18, 2025 declaring the first day of February annually as the ‘National Day of Awareness on Hijab and Other Traditional Garments and Attire’.
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago enthusiastically participated in the hijab wearing, along with fellow Makabayan (Patriotic) coalition member Renee Co, who represents the youth sector in Congress. “This representation joined the activity to express our solidarity in advancing the interests and welfare of Muslim women, Elago said.
Faith, modesty, women’s identity
There are 90 women members among 318 district and partylist representatives in the 20th Congress of the country that is roughly 80 per cent Catholic and 6 per cent Muslim.
Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Sittie Shahara Bai Dimple Mastura underscored the importance of faith, modesty, and empowerment in Muslim women’s identity.
Mastura, chairperson of the chamber’s Committee on Muslim Affairs, said the hijab is an expression of religious freedom, cultural identity, and dignity, and should not be a basis for discrimination. She raised concern over reports of continued discrimination against hijab-wearing women, including cases in which students were allegedly barred from wearing hijab in some schools.
Such practices run counter to inclusivity and respect for religious expression, Mastura underscored, as she “called for greater awareness and understanding among Filipinos, emphasising that respect for diversity is essential to building peace and social cohesion.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Faustino Dy III, underlined: “When women are empowered to be fully themselves—without fear of discrimination or misunderstanding—our communities become stronger, more compassionate, and more fair.”