India: Karnataka government claims Hijab is not essential religious practice in Islam

by Abbas Adil

Karnataka government claims that the Hijab is not an essential religious practice of Islam and preventing its use won’t violate Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom. Appearing for the state dispensation, Advocate General of Karnataka Prabhuling Navadgi told the high court the claim that the government order discriminates against Muslim women has a communal basis, all of which is absolute without any basis. The government order on February 5 had barred students from wearing hijab or saffron scarves.

“We have taken a stand that wearing Hijab is not an essential religious part of Islam,” the AG told the full bench of the High Court comprising Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J M Khazi and Justice Krishna M Dixit. The AG also rejected the charge of some Muslim girls, who challenged the Karnataka government’s order on February 5 that barred students from wearing Hijab or saffron scarves saying that it violated Article 25 of the Constitution.

Article 25 gives freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion to the citizens of India. The government order also does not violate Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, Navadgi argued. Article 19(1)(a) guarantees to all its citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression. The Advocate General also contended that the February 5 order of the state government was in accordance with the law and there was nothing to object in it.

Sources: theprint,news18

Read more from Shafaqna:

India: Outrage after Hijab-wearing student heckled by extremist Hindu mob

India: Demonstrators condemn Hijab ban in some educational institutions in Karnataka

India: Hijab wearing Muslim students barred from classes

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