BY REUTERS
UDIPI, INDIA FEB 12, 2022 –
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India shuts schools after hijab ban protests intensify
After an Indian college announced its intent to expel hijab-wearing students, Ayesha Imthiaz, an Indian Muslim student who considers wearing a hijab an expression of her faith, says the move forces her to choose between religion and education.
“The humiliation of being asked to leave my classroom for wearing a head scarf by college officials has shaken my core belief,” said the 21-year-old student from southern Karnataka’s Udupi district, where protests over the head covering ban began.
“My religion has been questioned and insulted by a place which I had considered as a temple of education,” she told Reuters.
“It is more like telling us you chose between your religion or education, that’s a wrong thing,” she said after studying for five years at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial college in Udupi.
Several Muslim girls who protested the ban had received threatening calls and were forced to stay indoors, she added.
College officials say students are allowed to wear the hijab on campus and only asked them to take it off inside the classroom.
Udupi is one of three districts in Karnataka’s religiously sensitive coastal region, which is a stronghold of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The stand-off has increased fear and anger among minority Muslims, who say the country’s constitution grants them the freedom to wear what they want. Protests over the ban have escalated, with hundreds demonstrating this month in Kolkata and Chennai.
Last week, a judge at the state’s high court referred petitions challenging the ban to a larger panel.
The issue is being closely watched internationally as a test of religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) on Friday said the hijab bans “violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls.”
In response, India’s foreign ministry on Saturday said outside comments over internal issues were not welcome and the matter was under judicial review.
Imthiaz and six other Muslim girls protesting the ban say they are determined to fight for their religious freedom in the face of some hardline Hindu students and even some of their friends.
“It is really hurtful to see our own friends going against us and telling ‘I have a problem with you wearing the hijab’ … it has affected our bonds and mental health,” Imthiaz said.
I SUPPORT NON ISLAMIC COUNTRY DO THE SAME ….
As long as Islsmic countries such as Saudi, Iran, zgukf states etc I support non Islamic countries do the same!
The world community want every country treat all women FAIRLY.
fairly? meaning that all ladies should have the free will to put what they chose, I assume.
I live in a non-Muslim country and ALL religions are allowed to put on what they want…., including some tourists from supposed ‘civilized’ nations who roam around with the skimpiest clothes imaginable!
There’s no ban on hijabs, burkas, niqabs, etc., Alhamdulillah.