Indian court upholds ban on headscarves in schools in Karnataka state

The ruling comes weeks after the ordinance led to violent protests and raised concerns about discrimination against women. Muslim community minority in India.

The southern Indian state of Karnataka has been “bubbling” for the past few weeks after a small group of teenage girls were prevented from doing so. hijab at schools in late 2021. Protests have taken place across the state. Local police used tear gas to disperse angry crowds as many schools imposed their own bans and radical Hindu groups organized protests.

After weeks of deliberation, the Karnataka state high court ruled that the wearing of the hijab was not an essential religious practice of Islam.

“The uniform rule is a reasonable restriction on fundamental rights,” the court stated.

Interior Minister Araga Jnanendra said that additional forces were dispatched to the police stations on the night of March 14 to ensure the maintenance of law and order before the ruling was made.

Protesters protest against the ban on Muslim headscarves in schools in Karnataka state. (Photo: Reuters)

According to many residents in the state of Karnataka, Muslim female students have worn the hijab at school for decades, just as Hindus, Sikhs and Christians have done with their religious symbols. surname.

In February, the Karnataka state government tried to reassure residents by closing schools for a few days and banning protests.

Initially, the Karnataka state high court ordered a temporary ban on all religious symbols, including both Hindu and Christian symbols, in schools. Schools reopened in February under tight security with a ban on gatherings of more than four people.

Some Muslim students told local media that they would rather go home than be forced to choose between their faith and their education.

“My daughter has been wearing a headscarf since she was 5 years old. It is to protect her dignity,” Nasir Sharif, 43, the father of a 15-year-old girl, told AFP news agency. “What they are asking us to do is humiliation,” he added.

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