More than hundred women activists, student leaders and academics from Kerala rallied behind the Muslim students in Karnataka who have been fighting against ongoing hijab ban in educational institutions.
“The institutionalised Islamophobia transpiring in the name of hijab in various educational institutions in Karnataka is alarming,” read a statement issued by hundreds of women including independent MLA KK Rema, Delhi University professor Dr. Jenny Rowena, anti-CAA movement leaders and student activists Aysha Renna and Ladeeda Farzana and Jamaat-e-Islami leader PV Rahmabi, Dalit labor activist Gomathi and Transgender activist Sheethal Shyam.
There must be a proper legislation to protect the religious attire of Muslim women and there should be penal action against the hatred and atrocities in the name of hijab, urged the activists in Kerala.
The statement was also endorsed by academics Dr. Shamsad Hussain, Dr. Sherin BS, Dr. Varsha Basheer and Ummul Fayiza and Muslim League’s Mufeedha Thesni and GIO’s Thamanna Sultana and actors Jolly Chirayath and Lali PM.
Read the full text of statement:
The institutionalised Islamophobia transpiring in the name of hijab in various educational institutions in Karnataka is alarming. It showcases the racial hatred of Hindutva Fascism. Hijab and Niqab are made the new reason for denying Muslim women’s right to religious attire and for promoting racialized violence against Muslims.
In this situation, constraining the issue of denial of rights to wear hijab in the educational institutions into a mere hijab vs Uniform debate will simplify the seriousness of the problem. It has to be noted that Muslim women are facing this atrocious denial of fundamental rights in India, where religious symbols of different groups have official approval, special considerations and protection under law. Hence the hijab Ban in educational institutions is not just a uniform issue, but a targeted Hindutva agenda against the empowerment of the Muslim populace.
There must be a proper legislation to protect the religious attire of Muslim women. There should be penal action against the hatred and atrocities in the name of hijab. For achieving this aim, civil society members, political leaders and social activists must come forward to increase the political pressure. Mass movements must be strengthened to fight against the issue.
The protests led by Muslim women students in various places in Karanata give immense power and hope to all Muslim women students across India who are facing the issue. Students from different states of India should take up the continuity of these protests.
We declare our complete support to the protesting students.
Statement signed by:
KK Rama MLA
Dr. Shamshad Hussain
Jolly Chirayath
Dr. Rekha Raj
G. Ushakumari
Deepa P Mohanan
Lali PM
Gomathy
Dr. Sherin BS
Dr. Varsha Basheer
Dr. Jenny Rowena
Ummul Fayiza
Ambika
Sathy Ankamaly
Adv. Bindhu Ammini
Sheethal Shyam
Aysha Renna
Ladeeda Farzana
Adv. Najma Thabsheera
Raniya Sulaikha
Nidha Parveen
Aleena Akashamittayi
Mufeedha Thesni
Mrudula Bhavani
P Ruksana
PV Rahmabi
Farhana Ashiq
Nusra Shakir
Rahana Shajahan
Jabeena Irshad
Fathima Asla
Labeeba Mangalassery
Ayisha Banu
Rumaiza Rafeek
Najda Raihan
Zeba Sherin
Adv. Thamanna Sulthana
Anjali Mohan
Naushaba Nas
Najiya PP
Noorjahan
Huda Ahsan
Izzah Ahsan
Fasna Mian
Rabeeha Abduraheem
Benna Fathima
Shabas Fathima
Fathima Bathool
Shabna Sumayya
Fathima Zehra Bathool
Samar Ali
Ramziya Ashraf
Fayiza CA
Mina Jaleel
