“Religious freedom includes the ability to choose one’s religious attire. Karnataka should not determine permissibility of religious clothing,” tweets IRF.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – International Religious Freedom (IRF), a US government body that monitors and reports on religious freedom abroad, took a critical view of the ongoing controversy arising from hijab ban in the Indian state of Karnataka. “Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom,” observed Rashad Hussain, the Ambassador at Large for IRF.
On Friday, Hussain’s office tweeted, “Religious freedom includes the ability to choose one’s religious attire. The Indian state of Karnataka should not determine permissibility of religious clothing. Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls.”
Religious freedom includes the ability to choose one’s religious attire. The Indian state of Karnataka should not determine permissibility of religious clothing. Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls.
— Amb. at Large for International Religious Freedom (@IRF_Ambassador) February 11, 2022
Hussain was appointed Ambassador-at-Large for IRF by the US Senate in December last. He is the first Muslim Ambassador-at-Large for IRF.
The IRF indictment of India came in the wake of colleges in the southern state of Karnataka barring entry of Muslim students wearing hijab leading to spontaneous protests in the country. The protestors, mainly Muslim students, demanded removal of ban on hijab as it violates constitutional right of the students.
The ensuing strife prompted the state administration to order closure of schools and colleges till a time when the Karnataka High Court, which is hearing the petitions on the hijab ban, delivers its verdict.
As the protest gathered momentum, the acrimony over the shoddy deal meted out to the students in hijab spread to other parts of the state. In a reaction to the protest, youngsters from the majority community, ostensibly backed by right-wing outfits, came out brandishing saffron scarves as a counter to the demand to allow hijab in the classrooms.
The issue is currently sub judice as it has been taken up by the Karnataka High Court for hearing. On Thursday, the court has issued an interim order asking students not to insist on religious clothing till the court resolves the matter.
The Narendra Modi led BJP government at the Centre didn’t react all this while even though the same party is in power in Karnataka. As the issue of hijab ban and the consequent harassment of the female students from minority Muslim community started drawing widespread attention abroad with political leaders and activists expressing solidarity with the girls spearheading the campaign against the ban on hijab the government suddenly woke up to the situation.
The Indian government reacted to the global outrage by casting aspersion on the intention of the critics. Sharply reacting to the global uproar over the hijab row, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA), on Saturday, said “motivated comments” on internal issues are not welcome.
When his comment was sought by the media on dress code in some educational institutions in Karnataka, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: “A matter regarding dress code in some educational institutions in the State of Karnataka is under judicial examination by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka. Our constitutional framework and mechanisms, as well as our democratic ethos and polity, are the context in which issues are considered and resolved.”
