Kathy Zeitoun on wearing the hijab

Michigan State University Journaism Major Caron Creighton interviews Kathy Zeitoun about wearing the hijab as a woman who has converted to Islam. Kathy and her husband Abdulrahman Zeitoun manage the Zeitoun Foundation, which promotes tolerance. The book Zeitoun by Dave Eggers details what happened to the couple during and after Hurricane Katrina. The couple visited MSU as part of the One Book One Community project.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• hijab
• kathy zeitoun
• abdulrahman zeitoun
• hurricane katrina
• caron creighton
• Michigan State University

[superesonator]

Until the 60s head coverings were normal attire in the US. In my elementary school the girls wore kerchiefs, which was very practical, it kept the sun off, it kept their hair from blowing around and kept them warm in the winter. My Grandmother would wear one. It is also a part of Christian tradition. So when I look at the headscarf I see something practical and elegant. An individual should also have a right to modesty, if you strip that away you steal their dignity.

[actressforever14]

Good for her! I'm Christian. I think Kathy is great, she's a religious woman who shows great faith and passion for what she believes and I wholly respect that. Good for her! :)

[ejafar456]

I read the book and I would like to comment on Kathy's health. I had the same symptoms that she is suffering from: fogginess, numbness in arms...I had numbness in my face too. A friend mentioned I should take Vitamin B12 because I'm vegetarian and the symptoms disappeared completely after I started taking them..sometimes B12 cannot be absorbed through the stomach and you might need injections. You can see the doctor about it. Please let me know if that works

[angerdux8]

@useyourheadhc Do you live in New Orleans as I do? I've read "Zeitoun" and I can say that there are so many discrepancies and improbable situations [even an outright lie] in his story that I was disappointed by him and embarrassed for him as a fellow New Orleanian who suffered through Katrina. I have never, ever heard anyone in Orleans Parish complain about Muslims. Maybe that's different in other Parishes, but never once in 20 years. The Zeitouns have done extremely well here.

[useyourheadhc]

@angerdux8 you obviously don't know their story, maybe you should look into it first before you start throwing around statements with no points to back them up.

[angerdux8]

In New Orleans, nobody cares about head scarfs or Muslims or whatever. Kathy is being disingenuous when she gives the impression that there is discrimination.

[XOMartha44]

Sorry to sound shallow, but the fact is that Kathy looks good in the hijaab. She has a pretty face shape, beautiful, glowing skin, full lips and huge, dark eyes, good brows.  Most of us would look like an old woman in a babooshka - ugh. So glad I'm not a Muslim, for reasons purely of fashion. I have always felt it's better to be "looked over than overlooked." Why hide one's gorgeousness because a patriarchal culture says you should? Curls and curves were meant to be seen and appreciated.

[marslark]

Great talking

I agree with you completely

Thanks