ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has termed the intimidation of Muslim women for wearing hijab in Karnataka “an act of coercion and extreme oppression.”
The Hijab (veil) controversy has intensified soon after a video went viral showing a Muslim girl wearing ‘hijab’ being heckled by more than 100 male students (Indians) wearing saffron scarves in Karnataka.
Through Twitter, Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the extremist gesture and said depriving Muslim girls of their right to education in a safe environment is a violation of fundamental human rights.
“Depriving Muslim girls of education is a grave violation of fundamental human rights. To deny anyone this fundamental right & terrorise them for wearing a hijab is absolutely oppressive,” FM Qureshi wrote.
Meanwhile, Michael Kugelman, a foreign policy and South Asian affairs analyst also gave his reaction on this heart-breaking incident in Karnataka, India, saying India’s future is at stake after all the hate and extremism becoming prevalent there.
Kugelman vehemently condemned the harassment of the Muslim girl for practicing an aspect of her religion as per her constitutional right, and it was shocking that the Indian government was totally mum on this matter.
It would not be wrong to say that courage of young girl student in Karnataka, India, has sparked an outrage globally and protests are being held in different countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh against this hateful behaviour of extremist Hindus.
Hate incident against Muskan, a Muslim girl student in ‘Hijab’
A video went viral on social media on Feb 9, showing Muskan, a burqa-clad female student was seen confronting extremist Hindu students in saffron scarves, shouting “Jai Shri Ram” as they heckled her while she reacted by shouting, “Allah hu Akbar” (God is the Great).
The video was from Mandya pre-University college, and the young girl, Muskan. In an interview with TV channels, Muskan vowed to keep fighting for her right “to wear the hijab”.
Muskan went on to say, “I was not worried. When I entered the college they were not allowing me just because I was wearing the ‘burqa’ (veil). They started shouting Jai Shri Ram. So I started screaming Allah hu Akbar. The principal and lecturers supported me and protected me. Our priority is our education. They are ruining our education.”
Muskan, a second year Commerce student, said that her Hindu friends are all supporting her right to wear the hijab and most of the people heckling her were outsiders, while a handful of them were her college-mates. NDTV quoted her as saying, “This only started last week. We used to wear the burqa and hijab all the time. I wore the hijab in class and used to remove the burqa. The hijab is a part of us. The principal never said anything. Outsiders have started this. The principal has advised us not to carry the burqa. We will continue to protest for the hijab. It is just a part of being a Muslim girl.” But despite the disruptions by saffron-scarves wearing people, Muskan said the support being extended towards her made her feel safe.
