The case led to demonstrations in several places in India
An Indian state has decided to close high schools because of a controversy over the wearing of the hijab that drew the attention of the world following the Afghan Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai gave her opinion on it.
The government of the southern Indian state of Karnataka made the decision following violence at student demonstrations over a ban on Muslim female students wearing headscarves in classrooms.
The state Supreme Court (Wednesday) continues to hear the petition filed on behalf of the Muslim students.
These developments occurred following protests started by six female students at a government high school spread to other schools.
Some Hindu students then went to their schools wearing the orange shawl – the color considered a Hindu symbol-to protest once morest Muslim female students wearing the hijab.
Malala Yousafzai called on India’s leaders to take action “to stop the marginalisation of Muslim women”. Malala was 15 years old when she was attacked with her life by the Taliban in Pakistan following she demanded girls ‘ right to education.
The 24 – year-old human rights activist tweeted that “banning girls from wearing headscarves in schools is appalling” and that “women continue to be commodified-whether by being forced to wear less or more”.
The crisis has increased fear and anger among the Muslim minority, who see the country’s Constitution as giving them the right to wear whatever they want.
Videos circulated Tuesday showing a Muslim woman being harassed by a group of youths chanting slogans, as well as heated discussions between hijab-wearing students and students wearing orange shawls.
In a rare move, the judge hearing the case appealed to students and everyone to “maintain peace and quiet”.
How the crisis began
The problem began to draw attention when six female students at a Government High School in Udupi district of Karnataka state began protesting once morest being banned from classes for wearing headscarves.
Udupi is one of three districts in the socially sensitive coastal region of Karnataka and is a stronghold of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. Observers usually describe the region as a laboratory for Hindu collectivist politics. The party also controls the Karnataka state government.
Image released، Umesh Marpally
The case drew attention in India following six female students began protesting at a Udupi high school
The school said it allowed female students to wear the hijab on campus and only asked them to take it off in classrooms. But the students, who all wear compulsory school uniforms, said they should be allowed to cover their heads in the classroom as well.
One student, Almas, told the BBC’s Indian section: “we have a few male teachers. “We have to cover our heads in front of men, that’s why we wear the hijab.
The students denied allegations that they were acting at the behest of the students ‘ front of India, the student arm of a hardline Islamist group, the “people’s front of India”, which has expressed support for the students ‘ cause.
Some Muslim women wear headscarves and niqabs in India, where overt religious symbols are common. However, the headteacher says it is essential that teachers can see the faces of female students, and wearing a school uniform ensures that no students are discriminated once morest.
Repeated meetings between students, school officials and government delegates failed to resolve the crisis.
How the problem spread to other schools
The issue of Muslim women wearing headscarves had appeared in a few other Karnataka state high schools earlier, but began to gain momentum when images of protesters in Udupi went viral on the internet.
Hindu students soon began wearing orange shawls in classes, prompting officials there to insist that neither team be allowed on campus.
Last week, a video showing the gates of a high school in Kundapur, Udupi district, being closed to veiled female students sparked outrage.
Image released، Umesh Marpally
A video showing the closure of the gate of a high school in the state of Karnataka went viral on the internet last week
Hindu male and female students have also begun demonstrating once morest veiled female students.
But the violence did not erupt until Tuesday, hours before the petition hearing began, and there were reports of stone-throwing and vandalism in some cities.
Local authorities have implemented ” Section 144, a colonial-era law that prohibits the gathering of more than four people in one place to prevent demonstrations.
In Shivamoga district, pictures were taken of a group of male students raising the Hindu orange flag inside their high school, prompting the state government to announce an investigation into the incident.
In the Mandya area, a video has gone viral showing a young woman wearing a niqab being followed by a crowd of men wearing orange shawls. As the crowd chanted ” Jai Shri Ram “(glory to god Ram), the young woman defiantly shouted” Allahu Akbar ” and was escorted away from the crowd by school authorities.
Later, the young woman, called moskan, said that the headmaster assured her that he would support her.
Moskan told the Indian Express The Indian Express“A few other Muslim girls have been subjected to similar harassment. The school’s management and director never prevented us from wearing the niqab, why did I listen to the intruders”
A senior police officer told the BBC’s Indian section that there had been “minor incidents” and that the situation was under control.
What the state government said
Education Minister bulaya Karnataka, Nagesh BBC, expressed support for the high school authorities who said that both the headscarf and the orange shawl should be banned inside the school campus.
Image released، Umesh Marpally
Many Hindu students went to school wearing orange shawl
It was further alleged that some “bastards” were inciting students to demonstrate.
Nagesh told the BBC’s Indian section: “it’s basically a political game. All this is happening because the state assembly elections are scheduled for next year,” he said, referring to attempts by the political wing of the people’s front of India to make some gains in the region.
Basavaraj bhumai, the chief minister and Home Minister of the state, called for the “preservation of peace and harmony”.
What the court has said so far
Two petitions were filed on behalf of the veiled female students.
One states that the choice of clothing is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, while the other challenges the legality of the state government’s recent edict on the uniform of educational institutions, which bans headscarves and headscarves.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the decree banning the hijab was unconstitutional and once morest the law, and asked the court to issue a temporary decision allowing all female students to return to classes before exams.
Judge Krishna Dixit, who is hearing the case, said he would act in accordance with the Constitution, adding: “I will make my decisions according to the oath of profession I have taken. “Keeping students out of classes is not a healthy attitude.