UP school stops two Muslim girls from wearing headscarf on campus


Lucknow, Nov 24 (HT): A Catholic school in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district has barred two Muslim students from wearing the headscarf inside the campus, saying it is against the uniform code of the institution, the family of the girls have alleged.

Maulana Mohd Raza Rizvi said Anand Bhawan School, affiliated to both Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) and UP boards, prevented his daughter and niece, both students of Class 7, from wearing the hijab that covers the head and hair of the wearer.

“We are the follower of Islam that strictly require girls to cover their head by the time they attain the age of nine. Therefore, our children wear the headscarf. But the school authorities do not allow them to wear it inside school premises,” Rizvi told the Hindustan Times.

“Since our Constitution allows each of us to practice our religion freely and there is no barrier to pursuing education to any community following and practising their faith. And even Sikhs are allowed to wear turban by schools,” he added.

The school management wrote to the girl’s family and said that the institution functions as per its rules and not on religious beliefs.

“Ours is a minority institution,” the letter reads.

The school authorities could not be reached for comment.

Barabanki’s district magistrate Akhilesh Tewari said the girl’s family has approached him to intervene in the matter.

“I have asked basic shiksha adhikari, PN Singh, to investigate the matter,” Tewari said.

Lucknow’s St Joseph’s Inter College had to face a magisterial inquiry in 2015 after it sent a Class 9 student home for wearing the hijab, saying she had violated the school’s dress code.

In the same year, school regulator Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued a set of instructions for students appearing for the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), which included a ban on long sleeves, veils and headscarves.

It led to a wave of protests with some organisations arguing that some articles of clothing like a hijab, or a veil, were part of their “essential religious practice”.

The board later announced that it would consider allowing students to wear burqas and religious headgear provided they could be rigorously frisked separately at the examination centre.

  

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Comment on this article

  • mahesh, Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 25 2017

    wondering whether the reactions would have been same if the news report didnt mention in which school it happenned?

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deva, Pilar

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    If your religion don't allow the dress code of Dress you can send your child to Islamic Madrasa to get good education, please respect the Law/Rule.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr Mohan Prabhu, LL.D, QC, Mangalore (Kankanady)/Ottawa, Canada

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    Since the school concerned is a minority institution specifically for Christians and may allow children belonging to other religions, the latter should not have the right to wear what is not in keeping with the school's dress policy, specifically burquqs and head coverings, including turbans. Next time, these parents will ask the school to teach the Quran or get Muslim instructors to teach. Or to provide a special prayer room for their children. Matters can get out of hand by catering even in little things like burqua.
    Parents of Muslim girls who object to the restriction should go to schools run by Muslim clerics or Muslim educationists; if there are not enough of them, government should encourage building them.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don, Mangalore

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    If one is following the rules of their faith and if you are made aware and informed that those rules clash with the rules of an educational institutions rules, then follow one should follow those rules. However, if you don't then you (not the government) build your own schools.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    Anand Bhavan is not a hotel run by Udupi Brahmins.. LOL
    It is a school run by catholic church of Lucknow

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    Government should build schools for Muslim Girls ...

    DisAgree [19] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • H.Dsouza, Kodagu / Mangaluru

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    Yeah, First time in 70Years!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • shan, dubai

    Sat, Nov 25 2017

    Government must not build any school for Muslim, Christian,Hindu or anybody...... They have build the school to educate the people of any religion.... In school there should not be any religious teaching and celebration of religious festivals.... Just education. For prayer they must allow them to attend their temple, church,Mosque on private basis.... If anyone wants their people i.e. christian, Muslim or Hindu wants to give them any special attention on their religion they must build their own schools. But on tax payers money.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K.C., Mangalore

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    Now, don't blow it out of proportions.
    If they shouldn't be restricted, stop sending them to such institutions. Find some Muslim institutions. That's it.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • H.Dsouza, Kodagu / Mangaluru

    Fri, Nov 24 2017

    True! Which is called uniform civil code i guess?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K. C., Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 25 2017

    No. Uniform civil code and school uniform both are different things.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: UP school stops two Muslim girls from wearing headscarf on campus



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