Kaffiyeh: The Symbolism and History of a Checkered Scarf

Across the neck, over the top, draped down the again, pinned into hair, wrapped round a face — there are lots of methods to model a kaffiyeh, the sq. checkered scarf historically worn in components of the Center East.

The black-and-white model specifically has change into a badge of Palestinian identification, with many Palestinians carrying it at occasions like weddings and graduations. The kaffiyeh has additionally been adopted by Palestinians as a logo of their aspiration and lengthy battle for independence, making it divisive to those that affiliate it with the combating concerned in that battle.

Because the begin of the Israel-Hamas War, as demonstrations have cropped up globally in assist of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, some Palestinians have been encouraging non-Palestinians to embrace the kaffiyeh as a logo of unity, and to put on it as a present of solidarity.

At a march for Gaza in Decrease Manhattan on Oct. 26, kaffiyehs had been worn by a various group carrying Palestinian flags. Three males, who had been sandwiched between two halal carts, prayed on prime of a kaffiyeh in lieu of a prayer mat.

Binh Ly, 33, who had a black-and-white kaffiyeh round his neck, stated he hadn’t been certain if he may put on the headband till he talked about it with a Palestinian good friend. “She gave me permission,” stated Mr. Ly, who’s Vietnamese and lives in Queens. His mother and father, he added, fled to the US due to the Vietnam Battle.

Ivanna Rodriguez-Rojas, a 24-year-old who lives in Manhattan, had a black-and-white kaffiyeh round her head on the protest. She stated she additionally didn’t know that Palestinian folks inspired non-Palestinian folks to put on the headband till she noticed a current publish on X, previously Twitter, shared by Fatima Saleh, a 38-year-old Palestinian who lives in Edmonton, Canada.

“Sure anybody can put on it! Your solidarity means every little thing to us,” the post learn.