Hijab ban: Issue raked up as polls are round the corner, says Malegaon mayor

Students say in Islam it is not binding on anyone to wear the hijab. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

As the row around the hijab in Karnataka continues, some women in Malegaon resolutely united last week to defend the sacred tradition of wearing the headscarf. The mayor of Malegaon Municipal Corporation, Tahera Shaikh Rasheed, held a pro-hijab rally in which many women participated in support of the headscarf.

The rally was followed by another, in which over 30,000 women participated in, on ‘Hijab Day,' organised on February 11 by MLA Mufti Mohammed Ismail Qasmi. The organisers have been booked by the police for violating prohibitory orders as the rally was held without police permission.

Tahira Shaikh Rasheed, Mayor, Malegaon

Shaikh, who is from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said, "Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chairman of the committee that drafted the Constitution, did not mention anything about peoples' manner of dressing in it. So why are a few people suddenly showing resistance to it? Some people just want to create a rift among communities and rake up fresh issues, especially given the upcoming elections. I condemn what happened in Karnataka and fully support Muslims there."

She said in Malegaon all institutes allow female students to wear hijab on campuses. Talking about Muskan Khan, who hit out at students who surrounded her chanting, "Jai Shri Ram," by shouting, "Allahu Akbar," Shaikh said, "Khan fought like a tigress. To honour her courageous act, we have decided to name the Urdu Ghar after her."

‘Part of a larger agenda'

Islamic scholar Maulana Sayyed Aminul Qadri agreed with Shaikh and said the controversy has been raked up as part of a larger agenda.

"There have been protests against the ban on the hijab in Karnataka in many parts of India. When a daughter is humiliated like this (Bibi Muskan Khan), it is an insult to the nation as it reflects a mindset. Those opposing the hijab are simply enemies of Islam. Would Sikhs also be disallowed by educational institutes if they wear turbans on campus?" said Qadri, one of Malegaon's top religious leaders.

Some people believe turning such an issue into a huge controversy is the handiwork of certain elements trying to fan communal flames as at least five states are bound to go to polls.

Qadri said, "People are being misled and instigated to clash with each other and disrupt harmony. All this is part of a larger agenda as no action was taken against students who hoisted a saffron flag."

While the controversy rages on, some educational institutes in Malegaon are examples of secularism, say students. Musfira Haneef, a TYBsc student from J.A.T Arts, Science and Commerce College for Women in Malegaon said, "Our college administration has never interfered in our religious beliefs."

Another student at the college, Zulfa Farooq, said, "Islam is a liberal religion and it is not binding on anyone to wear the hijab. No one at home forced me to wear it."

"My parents have told me to decide about it myself," pointed out Zainab Akhtar, another student.