An Evening with Professor Muriel Walker

by Sheharyar Shaikh

On heroism the American political journalist and historian, Theodore H. White, said: 

To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.

The society we live in exerts tremendous demands upon all of us to conform to its unwritten dictates. At times we find our deepest and most cherished convictions put on trial against the tide of a majority-held opinion. We all have an inner moral voice, yes, but only a few brave souls among us listen to it and answer its call for action while most of us agonizingly attempt to silence it. Those who defy the crowd on a perceived wrong all the while knowing the consequences of their defiance truly possess moral authority and character. It is they who are the heroes of a society.

Prof. Muriel Walker depicts nothing of the hero-image painted by popular media and movies; nor does she consider herself a hero, although some would disagree. On April 4, 2007,  Prof. Walker decided to organize “Wear My Hijab” day at McMaster University by inviting all women, Muslim or not, to wear a head scarf all day to show support for those who regularly wear it. The purpose of this exercise was, in her words, to “sensitize people about Islam…that you should not be afraid of Muslims”.

On June 4, 2007, we invited Prof. Walker for a talk at the NAMF Community Center in order to uncover why a non-Muslim university professor, a francophone, would organize a day on an issue that has become increasingly controversial in recent days.

Prof. Walker commenced by sharing the first incident that startled her by the fear and insecurity afflicting the Muslims. She related that once a 12-year old Muslim child in her supervision refused to eat a slice of pepperoni pizza. When she inquired if his religion prevented it, he cast his head down and denied it at first. Later he confessed that he was not supposed to say to anyone that he was Muslim. When Prof. Walker met the mother of the child and shared the story, the mother immediately said: “Yes, we are Muslims but we are not fanatical or anything”. As a single-mom of two young boys, Prof. Walker said she felt heartbroken at the fact that someone in Canada in this day and age could feel so terrified of revealing a part of their identity.

Was it an isolated case? Tenuous apprehensions of a mother and a child? It is only when Prof. Walker decided to experiment by donning the hijab in public did she experience the most incredible prejudice directed towards her. She recalls being pushed by students in the campus hallways who mistakenly took her for a Muslim student. She related of people’s s dirty looks, snickering remarks and/or complete disregard when she’d pass by in hijab. Once, while she was delivering a lecture in hijab, the campus security personnel rushed into the lecture hall unannounced and in frenzy. When inquired of the reason, they said they wanted to ensure the safety of everyone as the Muslims in this class happened to be too close to a nearby nuclear plant.   

At another instance, Prof Walker related one person saying to her: “You people have all the oil. You need to learn to share!”   

More upsetting than the attitude of students perhaps was the one of the faculty.  When she cited the treatment meted out to Muslims as comparable to the one towards the Jews in the 40’s, one faculty member remarked:  “Yes, but the Jews didn’t blow up buildings!”

Prof. Walker believes that the few with vested interests in society need to direct hate and propaganda against ‘the other’, which in this case, are the Muslims. She expressed her revolt with the constant negative media focus on the Muslims and added that TV shows such as “Sleeper Cell” cast suspicion on the ordinary law-abiding Muslim.

Why are Muslims singled out as targets among the many faith and ethnic groups?

“Because everyone hates them: the Christian right, the Zionists, the feminists, the secular humanists, the atheists etc.”, she said. She expressed alarm at the current trend which if continued would eventually lead to, in her opinion, another Holocaust. “No minorities would then be safe”, she stressed. “Look at the number of violent acts against Sikhs in the US and the instance of the burning down of a Hindu temple in Hamilton”. 

All in all, the evening of April 4 was one that did not deserve to be missed. Yet, unfortunately, after distributing hundreds of flyers, sending hundreds of emails, informing dozens of people about the event in person, only 10 people showed up as the participating audience (not counting the NAMF staff). What has become of our collective conscience? How pathetic it is that we Muslims flock in great numbers around comedians, singers, dancers and politicians on stage but simply ignore to hear and support someone who comes all the way from Hamilton to peel open our eyes and ears to what is around us.

Muriel Walker, who regularly observes the hijab on Fridays while attending prayers and eventually plans to organize a nation-wide hijab day, is fighting a great battle; our battle – and that of many Muslim mothers, daughters and sisters. As a reward, she will have her contract revoked by the university. She is considered a social pariah, has had her office vandalized by hate-mongers and is currently a target of a vile smear-campaign. Need we be reminded that it is because of her and people like her, who value human dignity and fairness that we Muslims sleep peacefully in our homes – and for this she deserves our full support.

I strongly urge you, the conscientious reader, to drop a line by email by telling her that you appreciate her courageous stand in support of those who observe the hijab. Secondly, make du’a for her to sustain her courage in face of open bias and bigotry – at a time when many Muslim academics, Imams and political luminaries disappoint us.

A timely praise or a show of support is worth millions. Prof. Murial Walker can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sheharyar Shaikh is the President of North American Muslim Foundation. He is specializing in contemporary Islamic thought and modernity