Muslim-Canadian Sooraya Graham, a fine arts student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, didn’t expect to find herself in the middle of a virtual hostage-taking when her project for a photography class was hung in the hallways of the university’s art department.

Her photo, a mural print of a woman wearing full Islamic dress and holding a bra in her hands while folding laundry, was ripped off the wall by an outraged university staffer.

Graham made the discovery last Friday after overhearing some students discussing the removal of “an offensive poster.”

The 24-year-old discovered the work in question was hers, and that the culprit had left a business card. It was a woman on faculty as an international adviser, said Graham.

“She had taken it to her office and held it hostage. She didn’t want to return it unless I agreed not to hang it up again.”

Graham said the dean immediately went to bat for the work. The photo was returned and hung in a campus gallery, although it had been ripped during its removal.

Christopher Seguin, vice-president of advancement at the university said the institution fully stands behind the work and the incident in no way reflects the views of the university.

“It was an individual acting on their own motivations. When we found out [they] had taken the piece of artwork down, we spoke to [them] and [they] made a commitment to replace it,” said Seguin.

“First and foremost freedom of expression has to be preserved on our campus.”

Seguin acknowledged the photograph has provoked a heated debate among the student body and in the local Muslim community. “We listen to the concerns of all our stakeholders, but we maintain freedom of expression on our campus. There is nothing condoning hatred in this work, it is not a rude piece of art and we stand behind it.”

Graham says she has been buoyed by support among members of the Muslim student body.

Members of the Saudi Education Centre in Kamloops have spoken out in the media, criticizing Graham’s photo mural and calling for her to post an explanatory note with the photo.

Graham, who is Muslim but not of Saudi origin, said she doesn’t feel the work needs to be explained. She said she selected the photo for the exhibit because “it humanizes the veiled woman.”

“You often see the stereotype of the veiled woman being oppressed. We all wear the same undergarments, do laundry, go shopping. I was leaving it open-ended for others to interpret the photo in their own way,” said Graham, who wears the niqab herself.

Graham received a brief email apology from the staffer who originally removed the art. Although she doesn’t condone the actions of the individual, she said she supports everyone’s rights to discuss and disagree. “I will fight for your right to argue with me on any topic,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I love Canada.”

dryan@vancouversun.com