Hijab Row
News kashmir Monitoring Desk
The issue of Hijab Ban that erupted the southern state of Karnataka is now a much serious and divisive issue .
In the beginning of January 2022, a dispute erupted in the state of Karnataka, when Muslim students wearing hijab in a junior college were denied entry to classes.Over the following weeks, it spread to several other schools and colleges across the state. On 5 February 2022, the Karnataka government issued an order stating that uniforms must be worn compulsorily where policies exist and no exception can be made for the wearing of hijab. Several schools cited this order and denied entry to Muslim girls wearing the hijab.Following this, petitions with regard to this issue were filed in the Karnataka High Court. The High Court issued an interim order restraining all students from wearing any form of religious attire. On 8 February 2022, the Government of Karnataka announced the closure of high schools and colleges for three days after protests and disputes over the wearing of hijab intensified. When the schools reopened on 14 February 2022, the High Court order was implemented in all schools and colleges of Karnataka, asking the students to remove hijabs at the school gates.On the other hand,
India had another run-in with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) few days back after the latter expressed “deep concerns” over the ongoing hijab controversy and “continued attacks targeting Muslims and their places of worship”. In its response, India accused the OIC of working with a communal mindset and said the organisation continues to be hijacked by vested interests to further their nefarious propaganda against India.Difference between hijab and burqa
The hijab is a headscarf that covers the hair, neck, and sometimes a woman’s shoulders. The burqa, on the other hand, is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.further hardening of the stand, the Karnataka government also recently issued a circular which says that wearing ofhijabis not permitted in minority institutions run under the state government.Secretary for Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf Department Major P. Manivannan stated that, the interim order of the full bench of the High Court also applies to residential schools run under the Minority Welfare Department and Moulana Azad Model Schools (English medium).The banning of Hijab in the Karnataka educational institutions is giving rise to many controversies .
