Can’t deny right to education for wearing a hijab: Mumbai activists

Students wearing ‘hijab’, who were denied entry, outside IDSG Government College in Chikmagalur, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Denying entry to Muslims students in hijab violates their fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution, hence this discrimination must stop, demanded city-based activists, while referring to the controversy that has erupted in Karnataka. Schools and colleges in Udupi and other parts of Karnataka have barred Muslim students wearing hijab, a head covering, from the campus. This has been condemned by religious scholars and practising Muslims across India. The Karnataka High Court has also heard four petitions so far against the educational institutions' action.

"Singling out hijab for criticism is unfair and discriminatory and we want this discrimination against Muslim girls in hijab to stop. We are seeing disturbing reports about teenage girls being denied entry into classrooms by a few educational institutes in Udupi and other places in Karnataka. The Constitution grants Right to Religious Freedom as well as Right to Education, and the girls cannot be denied education because they choose to wear hijab. While the college authorities are free to decide their own rules, these cannot violate the fundamental rights. The parents would not permit the girls to go to college without hijab and the authorities would deny them entry because of hijab. In either case, girls' education is bound to suffer. They are resorting to hate and divisive politics by instigating students to wear saffron scarves to counter the girls in hijab," said a statement from Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan in Mumbai.

A massive crowd of students, one group in hijab and another in saffron scarves, protested at a college in Karnataka on Tuesday morning. Karnataka chief minister ordered complete closure of schools and colleges for three days in order to avoid communal trouble.

Religious scholars defend hijab

Dr Noorjehan Safia Niaz, BMMA co-founder, said, "The matter has gone way beyond hijab. They are raking up this issue to communalise the situation. The schools suddenly realised that the girls wear hijab. Is this how they treat their students? This is pure hooliganism. The Centre, the state and colleges are pitting one set of students against the other. If educational institutions have an issue, they must be willing to engage in a dialogue with the stakeholders - students and their parents. The school has a right to decide what is part of their uniform, but this is no way to handle the situation. The school administrations' intentions are not honourable, but at the same time a headscarf is integral to Islam. The girls will protest if they are not allowed to enter their own school."

Saeed Noori, an activist and chief of Raza Academy, said "Hijab is our fundamental right. Those creating a ruckus are only serving political agenda and making this situation an election issue. Their intent was to create chaos and wanted students to take to the streets and start rioting. The girls in hijab, asking to be allowed on campus, were manhandled. Then there is another set of students who are wearing saffron shawls and walking around on the campus. This is an attempt to disturb peace and sanctity and divide the nation on caste and communal lines. I request the Centre to intervene, and we trust the court to deliver justice. The beauty of India lies in the diverse communities coexisting peacefully, and they want to finish off that too."