Uttar Pradesh hospital forces Muslim woman to remove hijab
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New Delhi: A Muslim woman has alleged that staff at a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur asked her to remove her hijab before she could collect prescribed medicines, triggering controversy after a video of her account circulated on social media on June 9, according to a report by Siasat.
The incident reportedly took place at Ursula Horman Memorial Hospital. According to the woman, she had completed the required procedures and waited for her turn to receive medicines when two female doctors informed her that she would have to remove her hijab before being served.
She alleged that hospital staff justified the instruction by citing security concerns and claiming that thefts frequently occurred within the hospital premises. The woman questioned the rationale behind the requirement, arguing that surveillance cameras were already installed to address such concerns and that there was no basis for linking theft prevention to the wearing of a hijab.
The woman further claimed that the alleged restriction was selectively applied to Muslim women. She said Hindu women and girls were being allowed to enter and collect medicines without facing similar conditions, while Muslim women wearing hijabs were being singled out.
Describing the rule as arbitrary and unjustified, she said she intended to raise the issue with higher authorities and seek clarification regarding the policy. The allegation has drawn attention online, with the video prompting discussions over religious freedom, equal treatment and the conduct of public institutions.
No official statement from the hospital authorities was mentioned in connection with the allegations. The claims surfaced through the woman’s video testimony, in which she maintained that Muslim women were being unfairly targeted under the pretext of security measures. The matter has since sparked debate on social media, with demands for an explanation from the hospital administration.