Introduction

Earlier this month, the Ontario legislature banned the keffiyeh, a checkered black and white scarf long worn by Palestinians and often seen at pro-Palestinian protests.

The ban was brought in because of a longstanding policy against clothing items that make overt political statements. But that decision has ignited a massive debate.

So, is the keffiyeh a political statement? Is it traditional regalia? Is it both? 

Today, we unpack those questions with Vox correspondent Abdallah Fayyad.

He recently wrote a piece called "How the keffiyeh became a symbol of the Palestinian cause."