AhlulBayt News Agency: The institution cites an incident last year where a burqa-clad student was caught cheating; the administration says the ban was meant to maintain discipline and prevent malpractices.
Muslims are up in arms against Vivek Vidyalaya and Junior College in the Goregaon suburb of Mumbai after the institution banned students from wearing a burqa on the institution’s campus, claiming that the rule violates the Indian Constitution’s guarantee of religious equality.
The college says it’s part of their uniform policy and anti-cheating measure, citing an incident last year where a burqa-clad student was caught cheating. The administration said the ban was meant to maintain discipline and prevent malpractices.
The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) on Thursday criticised the rule calling the ban discriminatory, saying it targets Muslim students and forces them to ditch their religious attire. The SIO argues this violates Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and religious freedom.
The student body said the policy mandates that Muslim students remove their religious attire before entering the class, while allowing hijabs, under the guise of prohibiting clothing that reveals religion or shows cultural disparity.
Burqas are full-length garments that fully cover the face, leaving a mesh screen for vision. A hijab covers the hair, ears and neck, while leaving the face uncovered. It is not clear whether the college has banned only burqas and has allowed hijabs.
“The college’s policy reeks of targeted Islamophobia, eroding inclusivity in our classrooms,” SIO said, demanding the immediate repeal of the rule and the intervention of the Maharashtra education department to protect religious freedom.
Affected students are planning to take drastic action, including hunger strikes, if the ban isn’t revoked. The issue has sparked concerns about Islamophobia and erosion of inclusivity in education.
Goregaon police, under whose jurisdiction the college is located, said that no FIR has been filed in the case.
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