Aligarh Muslim University students marched in protest on the campus, declaring solidarity with the Muslim girls denied entry to some educational institutions in Karnataka for wearing the hijab. Protesters carried placards such as ‘hijab is our right’ and ‘our girls, our pride,’ and ‘ban against Constitution.’ AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai said permission was not granted for the march.
Protests were held in Chennai, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Patna and Pune. In Malegaon, hundreds of Muslim women gathered in Pawarwadi on the call of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e Hind and supported by some others. The police booked four organisers of Jamiat Ulema e Hind for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144.
Five faculty members of IIMB urged the National Commission for Women to take suo moto cognisance of reports of intimidation of Muslim women students for their religious attire. “Women across all religions face patriarchal restrictions of one kind or the other. Certainly, we cannot condone such practices and must work with men, women, and religious leaders to bring about change. But to single out one religious practice is not acceptable,” their letter to NCW said.
“Evidence globally and from India shows education is the most effective tool for woman empowerment and broader social development. The atmosphere of fear and intimidation will make parents hesitate to send daughters to schools and colleges,” the letter addressed to NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
Students of Azim Premji University urged chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to stop “harassment of students by mobs and ensure a positive and safe environment” in schools and colleges. “The entire student community across the country is eyeing you with hope and optimism,” students said in the letter, and added that they stood in solidarity with students harassed by mobs and denied education based on their attire. The AIMIM staged a protest in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh. Protesters marched from Abul Fazal Enclave to Shahid Bilal Mosque, while the All India Students Association held a protest outside Karnataka Bhavan.
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