In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir, headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has deplored the decision of the High Court in the Indian state of Karnataka that upheld the ban on the wearing of hijab by Muslim students in educational institutions.
The MMU in a statement in Srinagar termed the decision as interference in the religious matters of Muslims and the Muslim personal law.
It maintained that this one sided decision of the court adversely affects the right to education of Muslim women who want to continue their studies while wearing the hijab or veil; and in this way so many of Muslim women will be deprived of the fundamental right to education. The wearing of veil by these girls in no way undermines the rights of other students or causes them or the institution any inconvenience, so the issue in itself is a non issue, it said.
The MMU said veil or pardah is part of Islam as ordained by the Qur’an for Muslim women; however there is no compulsion on its use. It said, the Muslim students who continue their studies while wearing hijab or veil have every right to do so and their action and decision while being admirable, should be respected.
The religious understanding of Islam and its tenets by the eminent judges is unsound and misleading, the statement said, adding that therefore, the leadership of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) should challenge this decision of the Karnataka court in the Supreme Court of India and take steps to achieve justice and supremacy of truth.
The MMU said for the past some years now, it is becoming evident that the rights of India’s largest minority, the Muslims, are being subverted and there is deliberate attempt to interfere in their religious practices and challenge them which is very concerning and disconcerting. A meeting will also be convened soon to review all the relevant aspects in this regard, it added.
The MMU consists of religious and political organizations including Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Rahimiyah Bandipora, Mufti Azam’s Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman Sharie Shian.—KMS
