Student activists express 'disappointment' over Karnataka HC's hijab ban endorsement

New Delhi: Several Muslim students and activists came together on Tuesday at a press conference and voice their 'disappointment' over the Karnataka High Court judgement upholding the ban on hijab imposed by government colleges.

Student activists asserted that uniforms should be inclusive of social and religious practices.

The Karnataka High Court in its 129-page order issued on Tuesday held that hijab is not an essential religious practice and upheld the Karnataka government's order banning the use of any cloth on the campus that could disturb peace, harmony and public order.

At the press conference here, the students and activists put forth a series of demands.

Huma Masih, a student activist, said the hijab issue should have started a healthy debate on uniforms whether they are inclusive.

"The hijab issue should have stirred a healthy discussion on the culture of uniforms. It should have started a discussion on whether uniforms are inclusive and democratic, but no one is talking about it," she said.

Simra Ansari of Jamia Millia Islamia alleged that there are some who do not want Muslim women to get education and are forcing them to choose between studies and their identity.

"Whenever Muslim women have come forward to talk about their rights, there are some people from a specific ideology who have had issues. This (the hijab ban) is a systematic way to stop Muslim women from getting educated by forcing them to choose between their studies and identity. Through this stage, I want to say that we will attain our right to get educated and also keep our identity. We will not choose," she said.

Khalida Parveen, a social activist, said they were ''disappointed'' over the court's decision.

"There is no guarantee that Muslim women, when they will go to a bank or some public place wearing a hijab, they will not be subjected to moral policing. If any untoward incident happens with them, who will be responsible? The central government talks about ''Beti Bachao' but the state government goes against it," she said.

Khaleda Abba, another social activist, said that Muslim girls do not need to approach courts to know about essential practices of Islam but religious scholars. She said that they were disappointed in the order. Strongly criticising, she added that the verdict is unacceptable. She said that they are not against uniforms, but the government will be responsible for creating mob violence situations after this verdict. The media is torturing even little children while television channel anchors become judges.

Nabia Khan, an education activist, has criticised that the High Court has now legalised years of violence over the hijab against Muslim women in Karnataka.

Student leader Zimra Ansari said that when asked if Muslim girls need a hijab or education, the answer is that they need both. The question of whether education or existence is irrelevant. Those who say that Muslim women should be freed from oppression are chasing off these women when they come public, she said.

Huma Masih said the High Court verdict was demoralising for Muslim students and questions women's agency. The National Commission for Women (NCW), who chose not to intervene when hijab worn girls faced attacks, has welcomed the controversial court order. She, however, expressed confidence that justice will be served in the Supreme Court.

The speakers said uniforms should be inclusive of religious and social practices in a diverse country like India. They demanded that cases registered against those who participated in protests against the hijab ban be withdrawn.

(Based on PTI feed)