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Noor
Suraya is a Black hijabi girl interned at Camp Mobius. She and several of her friends join Layla in organizing and protesting after the initial dinner fast. Layla initially wrote Suraya and her friends off and assumed they wouldn’t be interested in protesting, due to their deep faith and because they wear hijab. But Suraya’s open, accepting nature and her commitment to protesting and standing up for all Muslims’ rights reminds Layla that there’s no one right way to be Muslim.
Suraya Quotes in Internment
The Internment quotes below are all either spoken by Suraya or refer to Suraya. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 24 Quotes
So, of course, Suraya and the other hijabi girls are down with joining the protests; they already know what bravery is. Hijab is a choice they made, and in these times, an especially courageous one. I’m embarrassed—no, angry at myself—for not approaching them earlier, wrongly assuming they might be unwilling to stand up to the Director.
I nod. “I think it’s pretty clear who the enemy is here, and you’re right: We should have each other’s backs.”
“Some of the parents, they’re too scared; but that’s not all the adults. I know others will resist. We have to ignore the haters and not worry about what they’ll think.”
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Chapter 27 Quotes
We face the crowd near the fence and raise our fists. Like I’ve seen in old pictures of the Olympics in 1968, and the NoDAPL protests that have been going on for years, and women in India fighting for justice for rape victims, and the teens—just like me—at the March for Our Lives. It’s a simple gesture, and a beautiful one. It calls out through dusty pages of history and echoes from those whose shoulders I stand on—the ones who were hosed down but never retreated, who were beaten but persisted, and the ones whose voices were locked behind walls but whose spirits were never broken. The people united will never be defeated.
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Suraya Character Timeline in Internment
The timeline below shows where the character Suraya appears in Internment. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 24
From behind Layla, a hijabi girl named Suraya whispers that she supports Layla and wants to fast next time. As the girls weed,...
(full context)
...the threats are even real, and she tells the Director she knows nothing. Thinking of Suraya’s support, Layla feels more confident. The Director insists that since Layla is going to be...
(full context)
Chapter 25
...torture them at a black-ops site; as minors, they still have some protection. They discuss Suraya’s desire to participate, and Layla tells Ayesha about a silent protest tomorrow by the fence....
(full context)
...when Layla explains the plan to march to the fence and stand in a line. Suraya says she has a friend in the Mess who can throw some breakers and turn...
(full context)
Chapter 27
...it’s true that “rebellions are built on hope.” They enter the Mess and nod at Suraya. Abdul ignores Layla in a way that feels concerning. The girls get their food and...
(full context)
Chapter 33
...in. Several people step forward, and Ayesha—accompanied by her dad—run to another block to find Suraya. Khadijah auntie refuses to stay with the children; she’ll march with Layla.
(full context)
