Muslim Students Wear Hijab On World Hijab Day To Continue Protest Against Karnataka College

The six girls from the Government Girls Pre-University College in Udupi made a statement on February 1, World Hijab Day, after they wore hijab and were not allowed to attend the class at the institution.

The Karnataka government recently issued an order to maintain the status quo in the college until the high-level committee formed for the purpose submitted a report on allowing hijab with the uniform.

The college started in 1985, has 70 Muslim students out of the 700 students enrolled there studying in various streams.

Girl Students From Karnataka Continue Protests On The World Hijab Day:

The controversy started after students started their protest against the imposed dress code by the college on December 31, 2021. Even though the principal tried to convince the student regarding the dress code which has been followed since 1985, the protest continued and more students joined the protest. 

On January 31, a student from the college filed a petition in Karnataka High Court to allow her entry into the classroom with the hijab. She argued that wearing a hijab is guaranteed under the fundamental rights Article 14 and Article 25 by the Constitution of India. 

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As per the statements of Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat of Bhartiya Janata Party, no outside agency including people from Hindu or Muslim organisations is to be allowed inside the campus as the hijab row has put the career of 1000 students at stake. He also added that the protesting students have also been told to enter the college campus only if they decide to shun the hijab. 

As per the reports by The Quint, one of the protesting students named Aliya Assadi mentioned that "the protesting girls would come to the college wearing hijab, which is their religious and constitutional right". She also dismissed the report that students have agreed to attend the classes without hijab.