The keffiyeh is a traditional headdress worn by men in many Arab countries, with various names and designs. It serves a functional purpose, but is sometimes associated with terrorism or anti-Israeli sentiment. China is a leading producer, and some Westerners view it with suspicion.
The keffiyeh is a type of headdress worn by men in many Arab countries. It is known by many other names, including many alternate spellings of the word keffiyeh. Other names include shemag, yashmag, ghutra, mashada, and hatta. The headdress begins as a scarf, which is then wound around the head and sometimes folded over first. Usually, part of the scarf hangs to the side, allowing men to cover their nose and mouth during strong winds or sand and dust storms.
This traditional headdress is considered the national symbol of Palestine. You will notice many photos of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat with this scarf folded and wrapped. In Palestine, the scarf, typically made of cotton or cotton and wool, has a spider web pattern and is often black and white. In other countries, keffiyeh may vary in design and color.
In addition to being traditional attire, the keffiyeh serves an incredibly functional purpose. It can keep your head cool when it’s really hot, and it helps keep your head warm in colder temperatures too. The natural fibers used to make the scarves help allow for breathability and quick drying.
Perhaps ironically, one of the world’s leading producers of these scarves is China. They tend to make them much cheaper than what can be made in Arab or African countries. For this reason, China has undermined much of the market in the countries where they are used most.
For some people, the wearing of the keffiyeh is associated with terrorism, particularly Palestinian left-wing terrorist acts of the past, such as the 1969 hijacking of a TWA flight. Given Arafat’s penchant for wearing the scarf, it may also represent anti-Semitism or anti-Israeli sentiment to some people. Others see the keffiyeh as a distinctly militant symbol, especially representing the longstanding discord between Israel and Palestine. It would be a mistake to read so much into a traditional headdress, especially one worn in so many different ways, by so many different men, in so many countries.
Given the rise in anti-Arab sentiment in the West, some Westerners may view people wearing a keffiyeh, or anything resembling one, with great suspicion. This is definitely shown in a fight that erupted in the spring of 2008, led by right-wing American journalist Michelle Malkin. She led others to a boycott of the Dunkin’ Donuts store that featured a television ad featuring well-known cook and talk show host Rachel Ray. Ray appears to be wearing a scarf around her neck that resembles a keffiyeh, although it is not one of hers.
In response, Dunkin’ Donuts quickly pulled the ad. More middle-of-the-road and liberal press suggested this was a serious overreaction on the Malkin and Dunkin’ Donuts parts. Keith Olbermann, left-leaning news anchor on MSNBC, waxed poetic about Malkin’s part in ridding the world of “terrorist scarves.
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