Nasir Pasha, the general secretary of the Popular Front of India in Karnataka, on Sunday alleged that colleges in the state were creating unnecessary controversy over the hijab (headscarf) issue, thereby violating the religious freedom of Muslims.
In response to controversy surrounding hijab on various campuses in Karnataka, Pasha told media, “Some colleges are creating unwarranted controversies around the topic of headscarves and violating the fundamental, religious freedom of Muslims.”
Six Muslim students were denied entry into classrooms in Udupi’s Government PU College and forced to sit outside because they wore headscarves, claimed the leader.
“Following this, a few students of Pompei College at Aikala, Mangaluru, came to college donning saffron shawls and demanded the prohibition of headscarves,” he claimed.
The leader added, “A similar controversy was concocted at the Government First Class College at Koppa, Chikmagalur. Factually, dress codes are mandatorily implemented only up to SSLC. When there is no such mandatory dress code enforced in PU or Degree colleges, to say that headscarf is not allowed is an unrefined argument.”
“It is also an extremely unreasonable move for the Principal of the college to deny the students wearing headscarves entry into the classrooms. Notably, college students from the Muslim community have been attending classes adhering to the existing policy on clothing on a college level,” he said further.
Girls have the right to decide and wear modest clothing of their choice, said Pasha, adding that it is impossible to bring about equality through what we wear.
“Instead of creating controversies over headscarves due to internalized prejudice, it is incumbent in this day and age to delve into the topic of providing value-based, quality education,” Nasir Pasha said.
