Hijab Row: Muslims Seeking To Open Their Own Colleges In Coastal Karnataka

The hijab row that started in coastal Karnataka early this year has resulted in several Muslim schools in the region seeking to open their own pre-university colleges (PUC).

As reported by The Times of India, of the 14 applicants for permission to start PU colleges, 13 were from Muslim schools. Since the prevailing order urges maintenance of status quo as far as uniform rules are concerned, thereby disallowing the wearing of headscarf, parents are said to be seeking to admit their wards in institutions run by Muslims as those permit wearing hijab in classrooms.

Most colleges in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi where the issue first began have been strictly implementing the dress code, which doesn't allow any additional piece of garment apart from the uniform to be worn to classrooms.

As quoted by reports, officials in the PUE department said “there is a demand from Muslims to send their daughters to institutions run by their own community so that girls can continue wearing the hijab on campus”.

Only two of the 14 institutions though have been granted permission for this academic year as the rest are yet to provide the required documents. In order to begin classes this year, the colleges will have to obtain permission in one week else wait for the next academic year.

Meanwhile, the students who started the entire row, and initially had claimed they had nothing to do with any political organisation nor that the fight was politically motivated were seen leading a rally in Mangaluru.

After being reprimanded by the Commissioner of Police N Shashi Kumar for gathering a crowd and insisting on carrying out a rally even after being denied permission, the hijab sporting young women chanting slogans of ‘Inquilab and ‘Azadi’ headed to the Town Hall which was the venue of the 'Girls’ Convention of the Campus Front of India (CFI)' in buses.

Messages had been circulated on social media about a rally from Ambedkar circle to Town Hall which led to hundreds of burkha clad women gathering. “No permission from the police department was granted to carry out the procession. There was a miscommunication in this regard, and about 500 girls had gathered near a mosque. The organisers were asked to arrange for a bus and drop the women participants at the conference venue,” said Kumar, as reported.

The conference was chaired by the six students who were at the centre of the hijab issue led by Aliya Assadi.

As quoted by the report, Assadi said that she began to "understand the injustice that Muslim girls are going through in society’ only after the hijab controversy ‘erupted‘ in college. “A fight that was begun by six girls, has caught the nation’s attention and is now in the Supreme Court. When the fight began we never imagined that it would reach this level,” said Assadi, as quoted. She added that it had helped them "grow as better human beings".

The girls‘ petition is due for hearing at the apex court this week.