As Twitchy reported Thursday, a University of Central Florida student named Kathy Zhu (@PoliticalKathy) was the target of a campaign to have her expelled after she refused to try on a hijab for #NationalHijabDay.
Rayyan Sukkarieh (@anotherarabb), who helped organize the “try on a hijab” event on campus, called for Twitter to “do its thing” and “get this girl expelled.” After the story blew up, Sukkarieh locked down her Twitter account and moved to another handle — but now she’s back, and her tweets lobbying for an expulsion are back up.
TWITTER DO YOUR THING
Let’s get this girl expelled. Email st_condu@ucf.edu (UCF OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT) and send them Kathy’s tweet, including the photos in her thread. Ignorance will not be tolerated on my campus.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 1, 2018
KATHY should be EXPELLED b/c she is putting Muslim students, especially those wearing hijab, in danger with her tweets. She’s illiciting violence and is a danger to those on campus that are easily identifiable as Muslim. She goes against UCF’s values of integrity and community. https://t.co/oBunaHLffo
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/politicalkathy/status/959216859219415040
1)you’re putting whoever is in those photos in DANGER with your negative rhetoric
2) how can you speak for us when you haven’t even tried walking in our shoes?
3) were getting you expelled because UCF has no tolerance for discrimination https://t.co/Ir3gAJK7u5— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 2, 2018
The UFC Knight News picked up on the story and interviewed Zhu, who said, “I think it’s kind of ridiculous how people are trying to censor others for disagreeing with them, and then trying to get them kicked out. That’s the definition of fascism.” Sukkarieh declined to be interviewed.
The Knight News also received a statement from the university, which had concluded that “neither student’s actions as reported to the university violate our Rules of Conduct.” So much for expulsion, then.
For resources relating to this statement, please click here: https://t.co/aRu4VvHhnt pic.twitter.com/Ff5gdK0CyX
— UCF (@UCF) February 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/PoliticalKathy/status/959485430705115136
Kathy 1 Islamofascist 0
— Drip Dailey ?? (@DaileyOfficial) February 2, 2018
For those who are interested, Sukkarieh posted a lengthy thread on the hijab to counter Zhu’s assertion that it’s “oppressive.”
Hijab is not a fashion or an accessory. It is not a piece of cloth, towel or rag. It is my choice. It is beautiful. It symbolizes beauty, confidence, unity and modesty. Oppression has no place in my dictionary.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab is not implemented for the sake of men. Hijab is for women, for our choosing and our intention. We don’t wear hijab to have a man look at us in a different perspective. A man cannot look down upon a woman because of her choice not to wear hijab/ wear it.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab does not make someone a perfect Muslim. How could you say it’s oppressive if it is so liberating? A woman can be new to Islam and wear a hijab or be very religious. Hijab doesn’t implement a standard of religiousness.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab does not make a woman not beautiful. Hijab is a beauty in itself. Modesty, confidence and bravery are beautiful. My skin, my hair, does not have to be exposed to be beautiful.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab is not exclusive to Islam. It branches to Abrahamic faiths as well. What do you think the Virgin Mary is depicted wearing on her head? A headscarf.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab makes a Muslim woman easily identifiable as Muslim. It creates a sense of unity like no other between Muslim women, having us greet each other with a “peace be upon you” when spotting one another. That’s empowering, not oppressive.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab is voluntary. Nobody is forced to wear it. Actually, it is looked down upon if any aspect of religion is forced upon anyone. My hijab, my choice.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Hijab is not only the headscarf but is also the way we carry ourselves. Hijab means being kind to others, respecting one another and just being a good person in general. How is that oppressive?
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
I hope i cleared up some misconceptions some people may have. Let’s make this incident as opportunity to educate the ignorant. Peace.
— ريان ?? (@raybillss) February 3, 2018
Fine, as long as we can make the incident an opportunity to educate those ignorant of the First Amendment.
* * *
Update:
The saga continues:
https://twitter.com/PoliticalKathy/status/959909127886602241
Related:
Student targeted for expulsion after refusing to try on a hijab; Jenna Jameson schools
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