Hijab Row: IIM-B Faculty Members Seek NCW Intervention Over Intimidation Of Muslim Girls

Bengaluru: Five faculty members of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) have written to National Commission for Women (NCW) urging it to urgently take suo motu cognisance of reports of Muslim women students’ intimidation based on religious attire in Karnataka.

“Women across all religions face patriarchal restrictions of one kind or the other. Certainly, we cannot condone such practices and we must work with men, women, and religious leaders to bring about change. But to single out one religious practice is not acceptable,” the faculty members wrote.

Muslim students have been barred from entering schools and colleges wearing hijab in Karnataka. It triggered protests among Muslim girls, who insisted it was their right to wear a headscarf.

Counter-protests followed, with young men gathering at schools wearing saffron shawls. The Karnataka government decided to shut schools and colleges for three days.

The government earlier banned all clothes that ‘disturb public order, harmony’ in education institutions through an executive order.

The Karnataka high court on Thursday restrained students from wearing hijab or any other religious attire to schools and colleges until it decides a number of petitions questioning the ban.