16/03/2022
AISA stands against the exclusion and discrimination of Muslim women in educational institutions!
The All India Students Association expresses deep anguish and concern over the judgment passed by the Karnataka High Court today in regard to the issue of right to education of girl students who wear a hijab.
Karnataka has seen a wave of targeted hate, bigotry and discrimination against Muslim girl students in the past few weeks. The Karnataka High Court was approached to seek justice against the discrimination and bullying faced by these girls to protect their right to education and exercising their autonomy. However, what we saw was an increase in violence and spread of hatred, and forced social and communal divisions being created. Such incidents have also occurred in government schools and colleges where students from oppressed communities access education, which is affordable, and it comes at a time when government school and college students have had their education being badly impacted by the COVID pandemic and continue to cope with the difficulties pertaining to access, affordability, and quality of education.
Friends and classmates were pitted against each other on grounds that “uniformity” had to be implemented. Thus, students belonging to the Muslim community were prevented from entering their schools and colleges which has resulted in these girl students from not being able to appear for their exams and are on the verge of losing out on one-year of their academics! These students have braved discrimination and bullying at the hands of the college authorities and also the right-wing goons, while seeking for justice and their right to education. What educational institutions must teach students is to value diversity, plurality and secularism.
The Muslim girl students also faced an assault against their autonomy to practice their religion and to wear clothes of their choice. Not only the students, but hijab-wearing teachers were also humiliated in public where they were asked to take off their hijabs in public and in front of leering cameras of the media! The High Court had to ensure the protection of the constitutional rights of these Muslim girls and women. However, the Court failed to address the question of hijab from the perspective of Muslim women’s autonomy and right to education, thereby defeating the prospect of justice.
AISA calls out to all students to come together and stand shoulder to shoulder with these students who are facing discrimination and bullying. Let’s demand that they be allowed to write their examinations. We must fight and resist communalisation of our campuses and uphold diversity, plurality and secularism. AISA appeals to the Supreme Court to immediately stay this unjust order that violates our constitution and women's choice to clothing and their right to education.
