Muslim medical students propose Hijab attire to abide by religious tenets while doing surgical duties

Thiruvananthapuram: Seven medicine students at Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, have written a letter to the principal proposing a solution that accommodates their religious beliefs while allowing them to perform surgical duties.

According to their religious beliefs, the students say, wearing a hijab is mandatory for Muslim women under all circumstances. However, they acknowledge the challenges faced in finding a balance between adhering to hijab norms and complying with hospital regulations and maintaining sterile conditions in operation rooms.

The students' letter suggests alternatives based on uniform attire worn by health workers in other parts of the world and clothing options provided by manufacturers specializing in surgical procedures. They propose the use of long-sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods, which would enable them to adhere to sterile precautions while also wearing their hijabs.

"Long-sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods are available, which allow us to maintain sterile precautions as well as our hijab," they said. They wanted the principal to look into the matter and grant them permission to wear the same in operation theatres at the earliest.

Principal Dr Lynette Morris responded to the students' request by forming a committee to discuss the matter further. However, she stated that the demand could not be accepted at present, emphasizing that international standards must be maintained in operation theatres and that patient safety is of paramount importance.

Dr Morris emphasized that a decision regarding the students' proposal cannot be made by her alone. The committee, tasked with finding a solution, has been given a timeframe of 10 days to reach a conclusion.

This request by the medical students comes in the wake of a similar, but not identical, controversy that occurred in Karnataka last year. The state government, then led by the BJP, imposed a ban on wearing hijabs on campus, leading to a divisive public debate.

The issue eventually reached the courts, with the Karnataka High Court upholding the government's order, stating that the hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. The verdict was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court, where a two-judge bench delivered a split decision. The Supreme Court has announced that a three-judge bench will be formed to further deliberate on the matter.

However, following the change of government in Karnataka in May, the ban on hijab as such in campuses has also been lifted.