Six Muslim girls in Karnataka’s Udupi, are being deprived of education for around three weeks now. Why? Because, they were attending college wearing a hijab i.e, covering their hair with a scarf.
“If their demand is met today, they might raise another demand on conducting namaz on the campus,” said the vice president of the Government Women’s PU College.
It has been almost three weeks since the six young students were first not allowed to attend their classes. They were being marked absent as they were not allowed to wear the hijab while attending classes, as the college staff views it as a violation of their dress code.
Political Wheels Churned To No Effect
With regards to this incident, five of the six students, along with members of the Girls Islamic Organisation and the Campus Front India, visited district collector Kurma Rao. However, it has been noted that he did not respond to requests for a comment.
Nazeer Ahmed, unit chief of the Social Democratic Party of India, Udupi, said that the party would organise demonstrations if the students were not permitted to attend classes while wearing hijabs, as by reported The Wire.
Unfortunately, no solution has come out yet.
The College Development Committee’s vice-president Yashpal Suvarna told the Deccan Herald that there were more than 150 women studying in the college, who were from minority communities. “None of them have raised any demands,” he said.
Right To Practice One’s Religion
Being a Muslim, I would like to tell the readers that hijab is a compulsory Islamic practice. I believe that it shouldn’t be compromised on.
“These girls who are members of the Campus Front of India (CFI) are keen on creating a controversy. The college has its own rules, regulations and disciplinary procedures. The uniform was introduced to offer an egalitarian approach to education, as there are many poor women studying in the college,” he added.
“We are only asking for our fundamental right,” said the Muslim students.
The demand is, of course, not a groundless demand. It’s their right provided to them by their human existence. Also, everyone should abide by the laws of the constitution and the principles of human rights.
Such Incidents Set A Dangerous Precedent
The Popular Front of India’s state general secretary, Nasir Pasha stated “Just like how the Hindu students wear a bindi and the Christian nuns wear a headdress, Muslim students should be allowed to wear a scarf over their head.”
The incident directly questions the democratic spirit of India. Provided it is not solved justifiably, it will, for sure, make a hole in the wings of the great Indian democracy.
Moreover, the incident will lead to similar incidents openly violating the laws of the constitution and human rights. Therefore, being a youth I demand the authorities to resolve this issue as soon as possible.