Mumbai: Two Muslim women, one holding a baby in her hand, were disallowed from entering Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital allegedly for wearing a burqa and hijab.
The incident reportedly took place near the maternity ward. The two women who had come to meet a relative requested the female security personnel to allow them inside, but in vain.
The security personnel insisted they remove their burqas; only then would they be allowed.
The incident was recorded by their male relative. Looking into the camera, one of the Muslim women, identified as Zahra Shaikh, says, “I was stopped at the entrance by the woman officer saying babies can be stolen inside a burqa. Are babies stolen only by people wearing a burqa?”
“If there is a problem with our burqas, we should be checked by a woman officer. How can you ask us to remove our attire? We are being treated as thieves. This is not done,” she adds.
Cooper Hospital has not yet issued any statement regarding the matter. It is run by Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The incident has sparked outrage, with several condemning it.
Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bhiwandi East Assembly Constituency MLA, Rais Shaikh, described it as concerning. In an X post, he said, “I have spoken to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) and requested immediate verification of the incident and appropriate action. No woman should face discrimination because of her attire or religion.”
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) national spokesperson Waris Pathan asserted Muslim women will continue wearing a burqa or a hijab.
Speaking to the media with Zahra Shaikh sitting beside him, he said, “This kind of conduct is harmful to the country. These people who spread hatred and make irresponsible remarks against Muslims on a daily basis keep targeting women for wearing burqas and hijabs…Muslim women wear the burqa and hijab, and they will continue to do so, Insha’Allah. You cannot stop them. We demand strict action against the woman constable who stopped the woman from entering the hospital allegedly because she was wearing a burqa.”
This should not have happened: Mumbai Mayor
Mayor Ritu Tawde assured the people of Mumbai that the city has zero tolerance for religious discrimination. “This is a hospital run by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, and such an incident should not have happened….A hospital is not a place to judge anyone based on their religion, whether Muslim, Hindu or any other faith. This is completely wrong,” she said.
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