Barred from exam to dropping out of school: How the hijab ban has affected Muslim students

Just as the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ruled that wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice while backing a ban on religious clothing in educational institutions, eight burqa-clad students in a Karnataka district were not allowed to appear for the exam.

The HC dismissed a number of petitions challenging a ban on headscarves in the state.
The court was hearing writ petitions filed by Muslim students seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms.

“We are of the considered opinion that the prescription of a school uniform is a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to,” the full bench comprising Karnataka chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit, and Justice J M Khazi.

Also read: Karnataka hijab row: Explaining how the controversy erupted and what’s next for student protesters

The order comes as a big blow to Muslim girls and women attending schools and colleges in the state. Thousands took to the streets after the hijab controversy stoked protests in January, which spread to other parts of the country, and forced authorities in Karnataka to keep educational institutions closed.

After two-year long lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, the more than two-month long controversy has affected education of students in Karnataka.

Let’s take a look at what is the hijab ban controversy and how it has affected Muslim students:

What is the hijab ban controversy

It all started with a protest by a group of six girls in Udupi, who were denied permission to wear hijab in the classroom in December last year. On 1 January 2022, the students of Udupi Women’s PU College held a press conference and criticised the ban.

Soon after, Udupi BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat, also the college’s development committee head, met with the students and parents and requested them to follow the college dress code.

However, the girls were not ready to budge. They continued the demonstration and stood outside the classroom for three days and later approached the court. Soon reports started emerging from other educational institutions as they imposed similar curbs.

More and more writ petitions filed in the Karnataka High Court by Muslim students, seeking the right to wear the hijab.

The protests intensified and spread to other parts of the state, as videos emerged of young girls wearing hijab being heckled by crowds of men sporting saffron scarves.

The rising tensions led to suspension of classes in several colleges in Vijayapura, Koppa, Mangaluru, Kundapura and Udupi.