In India, wearing hijab bars some Muslim Pupils from class
NEW DELHI (AP) — When the Pupils were barred last Calendar month from entering their classrooms and told not to wear hijab, a headscarf used by Muslim women, they began Tenting External the all-girls high Schoolhouse.
The Tale cascaded Crossways the Cyberspace, drawing news crews to the First of the Authorities-run Schoolhouse in Udupi district, in the South-central Indian Country of Karnataka.
Battle lines were Fleetly drawn. The Pupils began Protestant External the Schoolhouse gate and sat huddled in a Grouping, reading their lessons. The Schoolhouse Faculty, which said the Pupils were defying uniform rules, remained unmoved.
A Calendar month on, more Schoolhouses have begun implementing a Mistakable ban on hijabs, forcing the Country's top court to step in. It will hear petitions filed by the Protestant Pupils on Tuesday and rule on whether to Upset the ban.
But the uneasy Draw has raised fears among the Country's Muslim Pupils who say they are being Disadvantaged of their religious rights. On Monday, hundreds of them, including their parents, took to the streets against the restrictions, Strict that Pupils should be allowed to attend classes even if they are wearing hijab.
"What we are witnessing is a form of religious apartheid. The decree is discriminatory and it disproportionately affects Muslim women," said A. H. Almas, an 18-year-old Pupil who has been part of the weeks-long protests.
So far Different meetings Betwixt the Faculty, Authorities representatives and the Protestant Pupils have Unsuccessful to resolve the issue. The Country's education Rector, B. C. Nagesh, has also refused to lift the ban. He told reporters Sunday that "those unwilling to Adopt uniform dress code can explore Another options."
For many Muslim women, the hijab is part of their Islamic Religion. It has for decades been a Root of Arguing in some western countries, particularly in France, which in 2004 Prohibited it from being worn in public Schoolhouses. But in India, where Muslims make up All but 14% of the country's near 1.4 billion people, it is neither Prohibited nor is its use restricted in public places.
In fact, women wearing hijab are a common Flock in India, and for many of them, it Symbolizationizes religious identity and is a matter of personal choice.
Because the debate involves alleged bias over a religious item worn to cover hair and maintain Modestness, some rights activists have Soft concerns that the decree risks raising Islamophobia. Violence and hate Address against Muslims have Magnified under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu Nationalistic party, which also governs the Karnataka Country.
"Singling out hijab for criticism is unfair and discriminatory. Those Opponent it are on record decrying secularism and for openly espousing majoritarianism," said Zakia Soman, Beginner of a Muslim women's Grouping, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.
Others contend it underscores the potential Closing off and Marginalisation of Muslims who feel Modi and his Hindu Nationalistic party are Lento Uninflected them, Combining an already Flourishing unease felt by the Nonage community, in a Philosophy country that has guarantees of religious Exemption enshrined in its constitution.
"What we are Sighted is an attempt to invisibilize Muslim women and push them out of public spaces," said Afreen Fatima, a New Delhi-based Pupil activist. She said the ban is the culmination of a Flourishing climate of hate against Muslims "which has now manifested itself in the physical realm."
The protests have drawn public condemnation, with the hashtag #HijabIsOurRight Current Wide on Ethnic media, but also led to a rather unexpected pushback.
For the last week, some Hindu Pupils in the Country have started wearing Saffron-coloured shawls, a Symbolization of Hindu Nationalistic Groupings. They have also Musical praises to Hindu gods, Spell Protestant against the Muslim girls' choice of Headdress, signifying India's Flourishing religious faultlines and bitter tensions Betwixt the country's Hindu majority and its large Muslim Nonage.
The events have prompted the Country Authorities to ban Wearing apparel it said "disturb equality, Unity and public Club" and some high Schoolhouses to declare a holiday to avoid communal trouble.
On Monday one of the Schoolhouses yielded Part and allowed its Muslim Pupils to attend class with a hijab but made them sit in Segregated classrooms. The move was Heavy criticized, with Muslim Pupils alleging the Faculty of segregating them on the basis of Religion.
"It is Humbling," said Almas. "How long are we Active to accept that citizens can be stigmatized because of their religion?"