Karnataka Hijab Row: Videos Of Teachers And Students Being Forced To Remove Hijab Emerges Online, Swara Bhasker Expresses Contempt
The Karnataka hijab row has been making headlines over the past few weeks. With Karnataka state Congress leader Zameer Ahmed making shameful (and kaafi senseless) statements on the backdrop of the hijab row, it looks like things might just get worse for the Muslim students. But at the same time, public figures and celebrities seem to be coming out and standing in solidarity with these students. In the past, we’ve seen public figures like Swara Bhaskar, Richa Chadha, Paul Pogba and others taking a stand for the Muslim students and speaking up against the dress code. And once again an actress has spoken out against this move.
Sharing a video on Twitter a journalist pointed out that even the teachers have been barred from wearing a hijab on campus and are being made to take it off before entering the gate. Quoting the tweet Swara Bhasker once again made the stand on the matter clear. She pointed out that no one in their ‘right mind’ is okay with this rule. Earlier, Swara had termed the Karnataka hijab row a ‘shameful state of affairs’ and rightly so. The actress is known to be vocal on various socio-political issues.
No one in their right mind with any sense of ethics or decency is okay with this. https://t.co/jrNAFCJNZw
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 14, 2022
i do not know how even western liberal and upper caste feminists are okay with this. A woman has to take off clothes to access a public space. In what world is this bodily autonomy? In what world is this not perverse?
How the hell are ppl okay with this? https://t.co/I8c5FGpmxB
— Tooba Towfiq (@tooba_tweets) February 14, 2022
Another tweet shared by news agency ANI, shows Muslim students being forced to remove their hijab as they enter their educational institute. According to a report by NDTV, students of some Karnataka schools were made to remove their hijab before entering the campus in accordance with the interim High Court order directing educational institutes to re-open, after they were shut down last week due to the ongoing protests, but banning any religious clothing. The video is reportedly from a government school in the Mandya district. In the video, a school teacher can be seen stopping all Muslim students and asking them to remove their hijab. Several parents can be seen arguing with the teacher for stopping their wards from entering the school but following a heated conversation, a student can be seen taking off her hijab to enter the school. The Karnataka hijab row has clearly gotten worse.
#WATCH | K'taka: Argument b/w parents & a teacher outside Rotary School in Mandya as she asked students to take off hijab before entering campus
A parent says,"Requesting to allow students in classroom, hijab can be taken off after that but they're not allowing entry with hijab" pic.twitter.com/0VS57tpAw0
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
As per the NDTV report, a parent told the media that they have been ‘requesting’ the teachers to permit their children to wear their hijabs till their classroom after which it can be taken off but the teachers have refused to allow them to enter.
Karnataka Hijab Row
The Karnataka hijab row began last month after eight Muslim students were barred from entering their college wearing their headscarves. It soon turned into a protest after other colleges also began doing the same. Soon after the protests, educational institutes permitted the Muslim students from entering the campus wearing hijabs but seated them in a separate classroom. Following this move, another group of students in saffron shawls started protesting against it and also heckled several Muslim students as they tried to enter the campus.
Also Read: ‘Rapes Happen Because Women Don’t Wear Hijab’: Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed’s Shocking Statement On Hijab Row
As the protests intensified, schools and educational institutes were shut down for two weeks as a petition was filed against the hijab ban in the High Court. As on date, the case is ongoing but an interim order has been passed by the High Court directing students to not wear religious clothing to educational institutes to maintain ‘harmony’ till the matter is resolved. This order has been heavily criticised and an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging this order. But the Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the matter. As per news reports, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said, “We will interfere only at an appropriate time.”
First Published: February 14, 2022 6:16 PMSonam Kapoor On Hijab Row, Says “Turbans Can Be A Choice. But Hijab Can’t?”
