In Detroit, Muslim Girls Celebrate Taking the Veil

May 21, 2004

Source: The Detroit Free Press

Wire Service: AP

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw98203_20040521.htm

On May 21, 2004 The Detroit Free Press reported that, at a recent celebration organized by the Muslim Scouts of Michigan at the Islamic House of Wisdom, 43 girls ages 8 to 11 participated in a Takleef festival. The festival marks their entry into spiritual adulthood, a stage where they have accepted the responsibility of the veil. "Howsaa Idriss, an 8-year-old second-grader at Hayes Elementary School in Westland, wonders how her classmates will react to seeing her wearing the veil. While many of the girls at the celebration attend school in the heavily Arab and Muslim Detroit suburbs of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, few Muslim students attend Hayes. Howsaa's 14-year-old sister, Fatimah, who also is veiled, predicts she will be teased a little. But Howsaa says she is convinced the decision she reached about a month ago is the right one. She put on the hijab for the first time the night of the celebration."