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Great points, sarfraz. Why would anyone object to anything anyone else does ever?
First, the head scarf, though worn by many Muslim women, is not strictly "Muslim". If, on a blustery day I put my pashmina over my head in certain parts of London people would speak to me in Arabic. In Audrey Hepburn-era movies women wore them, it looks chic. Not long ago, women couldn't go into a Catholic church without a veil, and I think that's still true in some conservative areas of the world.
But what happens when you go out in attire which identifies you as a member of any religion is -- you become a representative of that religion, like it or not. People who have no other experience of Islam than what they see on the news (or YouTube movies like Fitna) will have formed an opinion of you. That's just human nature.
Similarly, if I wore a t-shirt that says "U.S.A." in some parts of the world where they've never met an American, they might have an opinion of Americans based on movies, but they will draw conclusions based on my behavior. When I wear sweatshirts from my kids' colleges, I assume people think "I didn't know people from X College could be such doofs!" (lol) If I go out without an abaya, chador, or burqa in some countries, they think I am a "ho", so they are justified in groping me or worse. Even if I am fully covered and walking with my children! (voice of experience here)
Islam is still a very unfamiliar religion to a lot of people, so some might see a woman in a headscarf and think "She is oppressed, I need to feel sorry for her." When you know, sarfraz, that the moment a woman chooses to wear hijab is a joyful sign of her adult faith. I have the good fortune of knowing many women who wear hijab and they are delightful and happy. But the impression persists.
I don't think you can change people's minds through force, only through education. Incidents where people have fatwa issued against them for making fun of the Prophet are NOT helpful to the cause of Islam. Profaning the Prophet (sorry, pbuh) is stupid but not criminal in our Western interpretation of things.
Even when you say "If you don't like a thing its your problem" it is needlessly hostile. Actually, it's YOUR problem, sarfraz, but I don't think you should see it in terms of a "problem", but an opportunity. It is the way to open the door to education of the Muslim faith, of enlightenment, and maybe acceptance. Your approach is like throwing a burqa over the whole issue.
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