Burqa-clad woman denied entry at Delhi hospital despite valid pass, sparks outrage

New Delhi: A Muslim woman was reportedly denied entry into Delhi’s Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital on Friday, November 7, despite holding a valid gate pass, triggering widespread criticism and raising concerns over discrimination in public institutions.

The woman, Tabassum, had arrived to visit her sister-in-law who had recently given birth at the hospital. In a video shared on social media, she alleged that female security staff objected to her attire and refused to let her in. “The guard looked at my burqa and said, ‘You cannot go inside wearing this.’ I asked for the rule, but she refused to explain,” Tabassum told reporters.

She said that although she presented her gate pass, the guards ignored her and allowed others to enter. Soon, other family members joined her, with one relative stating, “This is shameful. Are Muslims now to be humiliated even for visiting their sick relatives?” The incident was recorded and circulated online.

The episode has sparked fresh debate about religious bias in public spaces. Prof Irfan Ahmed, a sociologist at Jamia Millia Islamia, said, “First it was schools and colleges, now even hospitals? Such acts push minorities to feel unsafe even in essential public spaces. This is unacceptable.”

The incident has drawn attention to growing hostility faced by Muslims and other religious minorities in India, with many calling for accountability and institutional safeguards against such discrimination.