After Protest By Students, Mangalore University Imposes Total Ban On Wearing Hijabs On Campus
Mangalore University has amended its uniform policy to impose a total ban on Muslim students and faculty members wearing hijabs on campus.
The University College campus in Mangaluru had earlier allowed female Muslim students to cover their heads with uniform shawls.
However, this had led to protests by other students led by the BJP-affiliated ABVP.
Muslim students allowed to wear hijab even after HC order?
They alleged that Muslim students being allowed to wear hijab inside the campus violates the Karnataka High Court order in March.
The protesting students, who were wearing the college uniform, claimed that Muslim students are wearing hijab to college and some of them are doing so in classrooms too.
They accused the college principal and authorities of having failed to address the issue so far, under pressure from a "powerful, local political leader", and that the student's union leader has also colluded with them.
"We have been demanding the implementation of the High Court order, despite us submitting memoranda to college authorities, they were not implementing it, then PTA meeting was called and there also, parents and representative insisted that the court order be followed, then they said let the matter be decided at the Syndicate meeting," a protesting student said.
"Realising about the protest we were planning, the authorities have decided to implement the order now, he said, "....but some faculty are instigating Muslim girl students to wear hijab in the classrooms and that they too would wear it."
Though the syndicate had amended the existing uniform rule on May 16, it was not implemented till now.
Can't change uniform policy mid-course
There are around 40 Muslim girl students in the University college.
Following the University College's decision to ban hijabs, Muslim students on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner to allow the wearing of head scarves in classrooms.
"Nothing had happened after the court verdict, we wrote exams peacefully. But we received an unofficial note recently to attend classes without a hijab. We went to the principal, with HC's order and tried to speak with him. He said that he was helpless. VC said the same," said Fathima, a student.
Muslim students also claimed that the headscarf was part of the uniform for the students who wear it.?
It is also mentioned in the college prospectus, and the same was also told to us during an interview by the principal while joining.
"We received unofficial statement in the form of a text message from the college on May 16 stating that hijab is not allowed in the classes and everyone should come in uniform," a Muslim student said.
Hijab controversy in Karnataka?
Earlier this year, Karnataka had witnessed unprecedented scenes in schools and colleges after some opposed Muslim students wearing hijab.
They also pointed out that in the name of hijab some were even wearing the niqab, which covers the face entirely.
The matter was dragged to court and after two weeks of marathon deliberations, the Karnataka HC in March held that Hijab was not an essential part of Islam and reasonable restrictions can be imposed as part of the uniform policy.
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