This is 17-year-old Lamyaa from Pennsylvania. Her dad is currently living in Saudi Arabia.
Lamyaa is a part of an active group chat started by one of her friends where the subject of President Trump and the tense political climate was brought up.
"I personally had very strong views [on Trump] considering the presidency did impact me because I am an Arab, Muslim woman," she told BuzzFeed News.
When she identified herself as a Muslim woman, and criticized the president's views on Islam, one person in the chat tried to shut her down aggressively. They claimed she should stop defending a faith that wouldn't allow her to "take that scarf off or [her] dad would beat" her.
Lamyaa said she is more or less used to this kind of response from non-Muslim Americans, but she felt she needed to prove the person wrong. So she texted her dad in Saudi Arabia.
Her dad responded with his support, saying it's not his decision to make. "If it's what you feel like you want to do, go ahead. I'll support you no matter what," he wrote back.
Lamyaa wanted to share her dad's response publicly to dispel this kind of "mentality" people have toward all Muslim women who wear a hijab. Her texts with her dad have gone massively viral, with over 142,000 retweets currently.
Since this is a mentality a lot of you seem to have
Most of the responses to the tweet are in full support of Lamyaa, and of Lamyaa's dad's full support of her.
@lxmyaa DONT TAKE IT OFF BABE.
if my future husband isn't this supportive of our children he's not my husband https://t.co/zIa5dYMfO5
"Also, for those of you scared of the text in Arabic, it says, 'are you okay, my love?' so don't sweat it."
also, for those of you scared of the text in arabic, it says "are you okay, my love?" so don't sweat it https://t.co/MRBfjF40to
@lxmyaa @mikixann HABIBTI INTI OK? THAT SO SWEET THIS IS ADORABLE
But there were some angered responses from people, and other Muslim women, who pointed out that they don't feel the same kind of liberties about their hijabs from their parents. They felt Lamyaa's tweet erased their oppression.
@lxmyaa So because you're not oppressed, therefore no one is oppressed...so the countless of girls (like myself) wh… https://t.co/aNdNtWpYYC
"They misunderstood my tweet, but I do understand their anger," Lamyaa said in response. "My intention was in no way, shape, or form to speak over or offend anyone."
@lxmyaa *Cricketing silence* 😂. Lol, no one ever wants to stand up for the millions of girls forced to cover, espec… https://t.co/unEc2Hp9pO
"Women — in the Middle East specifically — face oppression but it is due to culture not religion," she added.
"People often mix the two and say the cultural practices are religious practices. That is far from the truth."
To these criticisms, she wanted to further clarify in a follow-up tweet/message.
Lamyaa said she's been in contact with these women. "I tweeted some users to tell them that if there is anything I can do to help them that I am here, and that I am so sorry for what they face," she said.
