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Friend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It Off

Friend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It Off

Religiously Intolerant Mom Terrified Of Muslim Student Because Of Hijab, Demands She Take It OffWoman Insists Daughter's Muslim Friend Take Her Hijab Off, She Refuses, Sending Mom Into Panic ModeFriend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It OffLady Fusses Over 18YO Wearing Hijab In Her House, Creates Drama After Teen Refuses To Take It OffFriend’s Mom Bans Muslim Teen From Visiting After She Refuses To Remove Her Hijab At Their HomeMuslim Teen Refuses To Remove Her Hijab At Friend’s House, Mom Shuts The Door On The FriendshipReligiously Intolerant Mom Feels Threatened By Muslim Student, Tries Forcing Her To Remove HeadscarfFriend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It OffFriend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It OffFriend’s Mom Freaks Out Over Hijab-Wearing Teen, Has Panic Attack After She Refuses To Take It Off
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You’d think we’d left behind the days when a simple scarf could trigger an existential meltdown, but apparently not. It’s 2024, and somehow, a headscarf can still cause panic attacks and “house rules” that rival airport security. Religious bias really knows how to show up in the most random places, with people acting like a piece of fabric holds mystical powers or is some kind of security threat.

But hey, here we are, with one Redditor sharing her bizarre experience of being treated like some kind of terrifying apparition…for simply wearing a headscarf, due to her religion.

More info: Reddit

When a person’s personal religious choices scare someone more than a horror movie, you just know there’s a deeper issue hidden there

Image credits: Ron Lach / Pexels (not the actual photo)

One Muslim student found herself on the receiving end of religious intolerance when her friend’s mom tried to force her to remove her hijab inside their house

Image credits: Kaboompics.com / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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The student goes to her friend’s house for a study group, but her friend’s mom says her headscarf makes her nervous and her boyfriend is “terrified” of it

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Image credits: gpointstudio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Image credits: UsefulPossession530

The student refuses to remove her headscarf due to her personal beliefs, which causes the mom to ban her from their house, not allowing her daughter to see her anymore

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The OP (original poster) of this story is an 18-year-old Muslim high school senior who joined a study group at her classmate Rachel’s house to prep for finals. All pretty normal so far, right? But the moment the OP walked through the door, Rachel’s mom hit her with “Would you mind taking off your scarf?”

Right away, the red flag parade began. Rachel jumped on the bandwagon, parroting her mom’s suggestion, even saying that the scarf somehow made her mom “nervous.” Nervous? Is the OP’s hijab secretly some high-tech device? A lie detector? Maybe a fire alarm?

Now, our Redditor is no pushover, so she politely declined and kept her scarf on. Not only is it a personal choice and a religious one, but to add a little extra twist here, there was a guy in the house. And, according to their religion’s rules, for a Muslim woman, showing her hair to a man—who is not her family—is prohibited.

Rachel insisted that the house was a “no-guy zone” that night, but surprise, surprise, guess who was lurking around? Yep, Rachel’s mom’s boyfriend. One of the other girls in the group even called this out, but Rachel’s mom acted like he just appeared out of thin air.

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Things calmed down for a hot minute, at least. But then, the plot thickened. Rachel texted the OP, saying her mom was having a panic attack because of the scarf and that her boyfriend felt “threatened” by it. How a scarf on an 18-year-old studying for finals could be classified as a threat is beyond me, but apparently, this piece of fabric was just too powerful.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Rachel’s message went on to decree that, since it was “her house, her rules,” the OP was banned from returning. The next study session would be at another friend’s place, but Rachel wouldn’t be joining because her mom wouldn’t allow her near the OP. If that’s not religious discrimination, I don’t know what is.

When someone is excluded, treated unfairly, or pressured to compromise their beliefs due to their religious practices or symbols, like wearing a hijab, it crosses into discriminatory territory.

According to The Office of Civil Rights (OCR), “Religious discrimination is treating individuals differently because of their religious beliefs and practices, and/or their request for accommodations of their religious beliefs and practices.”

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In this case, the OP was pressured by her friend’s mother to remove her headscarf, despite it being a personal and religious choice. And, let’s be real, this mom’s discomfort wasn’t based on any real threat but rather on an unfounded fear or prejudice against the hijab itself.

So, is the OP a jerk for refusing to remove her headscarf? Reddit seems to think not. Wearing a hijab is a choice, a personal decision, and in this case, one that literally harms no one—except, apparently, people with an irrational fear of scarves.

What’s your take on this story? Drop your comments below.

Netizens agree that the student is not a jerk for keeping her headscarf on, saying this is a classic case of religious discrimination

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Monica Selvi

Monica Selvi

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

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Monica Selvi

Monica Selvi

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

Denis Krotovas

Denis Krotovas

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

Read less »

Denis Krotovas

Denis Krotovas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

How do you feel about Rachel's mom asking the student to remove her hijab?
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AKA AKA
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i agree with person who said they'd feel more scared abut the ninja booyfriend who just spawned out of no where

Weasel Wise
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the mom is obviously a racist sac of shìt. And the term, "My house, my rules", is a very unassuming red flag; if she were to take her scarf off, there's gonna be just another thing they demand she do. And, I'll end with how laughable I find it that a grown woman is supposedly scared of a scarf! 🤣 stfu, lady!🤣🤣

Trillian
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those people sound like complete nutcases. I personally don't understand this whole headscarf thing but you do you. A grown a*s woman and man feeling so threatened that one has a panic attack .. they are either faking or in serious need of a psychological intervention.

Load More Comments
AKA AKA
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i agree with person who said they'd feel more scared abut the ninja booyfriend who just spawned out of no where

Weasel Wise
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the mom is obviously a racist sac of shìt. And the term, "My house, my rules", is a very unassuming red flag; if she were to take her scarf off, there's gonna be just another thing they demand she do. And, I'll end with how laughable I find it that a grown woman is supposedly scared of a scarf! 🤣 stfu, lady!🤣🤣

Trillian
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those people sound like complete nutcases. I personally don't understand this whole headscarf thing but you do you. A grown a*s woman and man feeling so threatened that one has a panic attack .. they are either faking or in serious need of a psychological intervention.

Load More Comments
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