Srinagar: A controversy erupted in a Srinagar school after a group of girl students staged a protest against the school authority for allegedly not allowing them to wear “abayas” in school. The students of Vishwa Bharti Higher Secondary school alleged that they are not being allowed to enter the school premises wearing “Abaya”- a loose outer garment worn by Muslim women. The school principal vehemently rejected the accusations and said the students were asked to follow a “proper dress code” and were only told to go to classes without wearing “Abaya”. The students of school on Thursday protested against the school administration for “barring” wearing “Abaya”. Talking to reporters the students alleged that the principal had made it clear that female students wearing “Abayas” will not be allowed inside the school. They said on Thursday when they reached the main gate of the school as usual, they were asked to take off “Abayas”.
The students said that the constitution of the country has given freedom to the followers of every religion, but the school administration is pressuring them to come to school without Abaya. The parents of the protesting girls alleged that the principal threatened the students that if they come wearing “Abaya” again, they will be given a discharge certificate. Soon after the protest broke, police immediately reached the spot. The principal of the school outrightly rejected the allegations. She said that the uniform is an identity, so the students should follow it. She said that the school administration did not impose any ban on “Abaya” or “Hijab”, but the students were told to go to classes without Abaya.
The principal said that it is necessary for every school to follow the education code, so the students should understand this. She said that the school administration has no problem wearing Abaya or Hijab of the same color as the school uniform is. The school administration allegedly barring the girl students from wearing the “Abayas”, has triggered reactions. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti linked the barring of wearing “Abayas” with the ban of Hijab in Karnataka. “This is not acceptable. Nothing should be forced on anyone,” she said. The National Conference called it “interference in matters of religious attire”. NC chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said that wearing a Hijab should be a personal choice, and there should be no interference in matters of religious attire. “It is unfortunate to witness such incidents in a Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir. The school administration demanding the removal of Hijabs is unacceptable,” he said. “We strongly oppose this and urge for immediate corrective action…” UNI
