Just because somebody can't see me
I'm not invisible.
Just because you can see somebody
doesn't mean they don't exist.
Doesn't mean they don't have feelings.
Doesn't mean you can't connect with them.
There's still very human like you.
My name is Fatima Ahmad.
I am 21 years old.
I started wearing the niqab one and a half years ago.
I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada.
My mother country is in Bangladesh
I'm currently studying at McGill in elementary education.
So, in the future I want to be a teacher.
There's the notion that if you cover up you're oppressed.
And the more skin you show the more free you are.
And for me, that statement is quite absurd,
because I choose what I will show to the world.
Not vice-versa.
My religion teaches me that it's about your character,
it's about your deeds.
It's not about how you look.
[Radio clip] This is Radio Noon and we're talking about Bill 62...
[Radio clip] It's like cancer that's invading this country and I applaud Quebec...
[Radio clip] The law is that you need to have your face uncovered and everyone simply should abide by it...
[Radio clip] I salute Quebec for this and I hope that this bill goes all over Canada...
[Laughter]
I'm not trying to impose myself on anyone
I wear the niqab as a personal commitment towards God.
So this is very personal
this is not some kind political thing.
I'm just practicing my right as a Canadian.
When the bill passed it just felt like everyone was against me.
And I just feel like doors are closing upon me.
So then you you start asking yourself
like, can I endure this?
Can this be something that I can go through everyday?
It was an extremely difficult time
and for me to go outside
took a lot — a lot of courage
[Girl speaks to group] One of my pastors said something a couple months ago that just stuck with me.
He said, from a distance it's really easy to demonize or idolize someone,
but up close we can humanize people.
[Fatima speaks] Since I started wearing the niqab, I know that my
midset and my worldviews have progressed.
I grew as a person.
[Speaking to group] So I don't know — I think, since there is this very
bad image of who Muslims are, what Islam is about,
I think as Muslim we have to
create a positive narrative.
As a teacher I don't want to just be just, you know
teaching science at math, but also
connect with students and go beyond and
I want them to be good human beings before anything.
I want my students to become caring individuals
who will, even though they have differences with other
people, they will learn how to respect each other.
[Protest leader speaks] We are Canadians, we are Quebecers and
we need to get people engaged.
Get to know your neighbors.
Bridge their trust.
Build their trust with your neighbors because
that's the only way we'll get stronger.
Despite our differences. Despite our diversity.
We are stronger together ...
[Fatima speaks] At the end of the day we will always have differences,
but to live in a peaceful society
to coexist with other people you
have to respect them
I think the niqab has helped me in many ways to put things into perspective.
It's a transformation that goes within
that we're trying to take a step forward
towards your faith
so I'm coming to a point
where I'm realizing that the niqab
is gonna be part of my journey.
It's going to be part of my success story
It's going to be part of me.
Yeah I'm just like you guys but different.
Different journey.