In an effort to support the Palestinian liberation movement on campus, Drew AJP is raising funds to purchase keffiyehs for Drew University students. Despite backlash from the Drew Administration, the student body wishes to visually show their solidarity with the people in Palestine in front of all faculty, staff, and students. If you are able to, please consider donating at bit.ly/ajp-funds or email us at drewuajp@gmail.com for alternate ways to donate or questions about the cause.
A Brief History of the Keffiyeh
Once a practical garment, the keffiyeh became a symbol of a nation. But how did this headscarf come to represent such a cultural and historical significance?
Originating in Iraq as far back as 3100 BC, this practical head scarf was worn by men to protect them from harsh climate conditions such as heat, sun, and sand storms. In Palestine, the scarf was worn as a status symbol, with farmers wearing the keffiyeh with individuals in urban areas wearing hats called tarboush. During the Palestinian revolt against British occupation in 1936, Palestinian nationals wore the headscarf to hide their faces from British authorities. As a mark of solidarity, Palestinian civilians began to wear the keffiyeh to make it harder for the British to single out Palestinian revolutionaries within the crowd.
The symbol of resistance was born.
In the 1960s, to represent the resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the keffiyeh once again gained popularity, but this time it was also worn by women. With the banning of the Palestinian flag for almost 30 years, the keffiyeh became the “global expression of Palestinian identity (Hirbawi).”
Today the keffiyeh is a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Worn by activists, politicians, celebrities, and everyday citizens, the garment has come a long way from its origin now representing freedom, solidarity, and a national identity.
If you are able to, please consider donating at bit.ly/ajp-funds or email us at drewuajp@gmail.com for alternate ways to donate or questions about the cause.
Sources:
Hirbawi – https://kufiya.org/what-does-the-palestinian-keffiyeh-symbolize/
VOX – https://www.vox.com/2023/12/6/23990673/keffiyeh-symbolism-palestinian-history