India court upholds Karnataka state’s ban on hijab in class

NEW DELHI: An Indian court docket on Tuesday upheld a ban on the hijab at school within the state of Karnataka, a ruling that might set a precedent for the remainder of the nation which has an enormous Muslim minority.
The ban final month by the southern state sparked protests by some Muslim college students and fogeys, and counter-protests by Hindu college students. The dispute has led to criticism that Muslims within the nation are being additional marginalized.
“We’re of the thought-about opinion that carrying of hijab by Muslim ladies doesn’t kind part of important non secular observe,” Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi of the Excessive Courtroom of Karnataka mentioned within the judgment.
He mentioned the federal government had the ability to prescribe uniform tips, dismissing varied petitions difficult the order.
Forward of the decision, Karnataka authorities introduced closures of faculties and faculties and imposed restrictions on public gatherings in some elements of the state to stop potential bother.
Final month, Federal House Minister Amit Shah mentioned he most popular college students sticking to highschool uniforms as an alternative of any non secular apparel.
College students who had challenged the ban in court docket had mentioned carrying the hijab was a basic proper assured underneath India’s structure and a necessary observe of Islam. Reuters couldn’t instantly contact the challengers.
Karnataka’s ban had led to protests in another elements of the nation too and drew criticism from the US and the Group of Islamic Cooperation.