Kuwait: The women’s wing of the Islamic Constitutional Movement on Wednesday staged a protest outside Indian Embassy in solidarity with the Muslim women in Karnataka.
In the protest around 120 people have participated. They carried placards against the hijab row which is going on in Karnataka.
Recently, the United States government body that monitors and reports on religious freedom throughout the world had slammed Karnataka over the row.
The ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (IRF) had tweeted, “Religious freedom includes the ability to choose one’s religious attire. The Indian state of Karnataka should not determine the permissibility of religious clothing. Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls”.
Karnataka hijab row
The row which started last month after hijab-wearing students of Udupi Government Pre-University College were denied permission to attend classes is currently being heard in Karnataka high court.
Senior advocate Prof Ravivarma Kumar on Wednesday highlighted that only the hijab is mentioned in the government order leaving all other religious symbols.
“If people sporting turban can be in the Army, what prevents these girls wearing hijab from attending classes? Students wearing dupatta, bangle, bindi, crucifix under the neck and as pendants, are not being sent out of classes, why only these girls? This is a matter which comes under Article 15 which talks about discrimination on the ground of religion,” he submitted, adding that even police force was used against Muslim students.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin adjourned the hearing till Thursday.
Hijab controversy crosses Karnataka border
Meanwhile, the hijab row has crossed the Karnataka border as it spreads to other states and union territory.
Recently, Agrani Government Autonomous PG College in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh issued a circular asking students to avoid wearing ‘religion-specific’ attire. This circular was issued after saffron-shawl-clad youngsters protested against two students who were wearing hijab inside college premises.
A similar incident was also reported in Puducherry wherein, a government school in Ariyankuppam stopped a Muslim girl from attending the class wearing hijab.
In Andhra Pradesh, students of Loyola College in Vijayawada said that they were denied entry.
