Hijab Row: Karnataka civil rights group demands protection of Muslim women's education rights

NEW DELHI: Bahutva Karnataka, a civil rights organization based in Karnataka has demanded the government to take necessary action to protect the education rights of Muslim girl students by allowing them to write exams wearing hijab and to attend classes so that they do not miss an education year.

The Karnataka High Court had dismissed the writ petition filed by students who faced religious discrimination, and whose fundamental rights were violated as they were not allowed to attend classes at college by wearing hijab.

The organisation held a press meet today, on March 16, which was addressed by leaders of Bahutva Karnataka, Girls Islamic Organisation Karnataka, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (B), Dalit Minority Sene, Jamaat-E_Islami Hind among others.

Press release below. Today's Press meet was addressed by leaders of @giokarnataka @BahutvaKtka @KarnatakaPucl, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (B) , Dalit Minority Sene, Jamaat-E_Islami Hind & others. pic.twitter.com/Uk2X9NAU1s

— Bahutva Karnataka ಬಹುತ್ವ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (@BahutvaKtka) March 16, 2022

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HC order attacks the right to autonomy & choice of Muslim women, likely to have wide impact on their right to education. It does not address the violation of their rights. It betrays our core constitutional principles

Joint Press Meet #HijabVerdict 2day (more details below) pic.twitter.com/8xLSFOrsJb

— Bahutva Karnataka ಬಹುತ್ವ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (@BahutvaKtka) March 16, 2022

Bahutva Karnataka, in a statement, says that the Karnataka High Court has not banned the hijab in all educational institutions. The court has only said that the hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam and upheld the government order that empowers the college development committee to prescribe uniforms. “Several elected representatives, media personnel and others are interpreting the High Court order to be a blanket ban on hijab,” it said.

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The civil rights group also said that it hopes Supreme Court will intervene to protect their fundamental rights. It further asked the ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus and to ensure the educational rights of all students including Muslim girls. It demanded to ensure the protection of Muslim students and their families from harassment by media, police and Hindutva extremists.

Bahutva Karnataka also demanded that journalists should follow media ethics while reporting and not communalise the issue.