Muslim women denied entry to Mumbai hospital maternity ward over burqa

Mumbai: A controversy erupted after two Muslim women were allegedly denied entry to the maternity ward of Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital for wearing burqas, drawing criticism from political leaders across the spectrum.

A day earlier, one of the women, advocate Jahanara, told IANS that she was stopped from entering the maternity ward because she was wearing a hijab.

“Even after I spoke to  them and introduced myself, I was still stopped and told, ‘No matter who you are, we will not allow you to enter in a burqa.’ When I asked them for the reason, they replied that when people go inside wearing burqas, babies get stolen,” she claimed.

The second woman, advocate Zahra Shaikh, on Tuesday clarified that videos circulating on social media about the incident were genuine.

“The same incident happened to me at Cooper Hospital in Andheri, where I had gone to meet my relative. Outside the maternity ward, the security personnel told me that I had to remove my burqa before entering... I showed them my face and when I asked them the reason, they said it was for security purposes because children are kidnapped by people wearing burqa,” she told IANS.

Condemning the alleged incident, NCP-SP spokesperson Vidya Chavan said: “If their religion requires them to wear a burqa, no watchman or man has the right to question why they are wearing one. The Indian Constitution gives everyone the right to practise their religion. Not every woman wearing a burqa is an extremist.”

“Harassing Muslim women in this manner is wrong,” she said, while demanding an immediate inquiry and appropriate action.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde assured that she would look into the matter.

“This is completely wrong. This is a matter of basic humanity. It is a hospital run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), though such an incident should not have happened in any hospital... It is not a place to judge anyone based on their religion, whether Muslim, Hindu or any other faith,” she told reporters.

Tawde added that strict action would be taken against any BMC worker found to be involved in the incident.

Congress leader Charan Singh Sapra also described the incident as “unfortunate”.

AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also criticised the alleged denial of entry.

“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,” he said.

“Muslim women wear burqa and hijab, and they will continue to do so. They cannot be stopped. We demand strict action against the constable who stopped the woman from entering the hospital just because she was wearing a burqa,” Pathan told reporters.

On the security concerns cited in the incident, Pathan said the BMC should install a greater number of CCTV cameras using its funds.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde, meanwhile, said no one would intentionally commit such an act.

However, he said: “Everyone has the right to wear outfits of their choice, irrespective of their religion, but security reasons also need to be taken care of by the municipality as well as the hospital.”

With IANS inputs