“Nothing Short Of Islamophobia”: Lawyers Association Files Complaint To Education Dept Over Udupi College Hijab Row

The All India Lawyers Association For Justice (AILAJ) has filed a complaint to the Department of PU Education, Karnataka, over barring Muslim students from entering classrooms wearing hijabs by a government college in Udupi.

AILAJ in its complaint said that targeting the student’s right to own religious identity is nothing short of Islamophobia. “If Muslim students are being denied their religion or their identity in a college, then it is a complete act of spreading Islamophobia,” the letter reads.

For the past three weeks, female students at the Government Women’s PU college in Udupi, Karnataka, have not been allowed entry into classrooms for wearing a hijab. Six students have been marked absent by the college since December 31, 2021. Students have even been compelled to sit on stairs for donning the hijab.

The girls have missed three weeks of classes and say that they may have a shortage of attendance that is required for them to write their Pre-University boards. 

“The actions of the college administration and staff against the students is per se violative of the fundamental rights of the students. It is important to remember that the constitution recognises that every person has the right to be treated equally (Article 14), to live with dignity (Article 21), a right to education (Article 21) and profess a religion of their choice (Article 25).”

Also Read: Hijab Issue: Muslim Girls At Udupi College Defiant Despite Growing Harassment

It said the denial of education to the young Muslim students and forcing them to choose between an education and their faith is a human right issue. “The targeting of the students’ right to their religious identity is nothing short of Islamophobia and seeks to plant divisions between different communities,” AILAJ said in its letter.