Palestinian Scarf – a powerful symbol of resistance, solidarity

The traditional Palestinian scarf is known as Keffiyeh or Hatta. World Keffiyeh Day is also celebrated on May 11, in order to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause and struggle.

The traditional checkered scarf, keffiyeh, was the political symbol in the Middle East in the 1930s. Made famous by Yasser Arafat, then leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation or PLO, it signified Palestinian quest for self-determination, nationalism and struggle against the occupation of their land by Israel. More than 5 decades ago there were more than 30 Keffiyeh factories operating in Palestine.

Unfortunately, the local manufacturing of the symbol of the Palestinian struggle for freedom is vanishing as most Keffiyeh’s sold around the world and even in Palestine are made in China or India. Today, only one factory remains in Palestine: The Hirbawi family in Hebron continues to weave the only original Keffiyeh made in Palestine.

It is loosely draped around the shoulder, folded up on either side of the head, as a turban, or arranged with a circlet of rope. In recent years, the keffiyeh has turned into a fashion trend and has been gaining popularity for a long time.   

Fashion contributed to it through the cultural appropriation of the keffiyeh by various fashion brands, removing its political edge. It became part of “festival fashion”, or items commonly worn to music festivals in the 2000s.

While it is impossible to deny the popularity of the keffiyeh in the world of fashion, it cannot be separated from its rich history. Palestinians around the world have an emotional relationship with the keffiyeh. The keffiyeh will continue to be a reminder to the world that Palestine continues to be unfree.

Recently, tensions in Jerusalem increased after after Israeli riot police subjected large crowds of Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa mosque to violence on the last Friday of the Holy month of Ramadan. The mosque is the third-sacred site for Muslims. Jews call the area the “Temple Mount” and claim it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.