Mumbai, Aug 11: In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has stayed the ban imposed by a private college in Mumbai on female students wearing hijab or niqab. This decision has been welcomed by Sajida Parveen, Secretary of the Women’s Department of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Maharashtra. She lauded it as a triumph for religious freedom and equality.
Sajida Parveen expressed her approval of the court’s stance, highlighting the apex court’s questioning of the college’s discriminatory policy.
“We endorse the stand taken by the Supreme Court when it questioned the validity of the ban and asked the Mumbai college whether it would also ban girls from wearing bindi or tilak. This query underscores the biased nature of the hijab ban,” Parveen stated.
The Supreme Court pointed out the inconsistency in the college’s argument that the ban aimed to prevent religious identification among students. Justice Sanjay Kumar aptly challenged the college, asking if it intended to identify female students merely by their numbers, thus exposing the flawed logic behind the policy.
Mrs. Parveen further remarked, “This injunction by the Supreme Court will undoubtedly strengthen the unity of our nation by embracing its rich diversity. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra, believes that this order will set a powerful precedent against any attempts to curtail religious freedom under the guise of secularism. We call upon all educational institutions to respect the diverse cultural and religious identities of their students and to foster an environment of mutual respect and understanding.”
She also encouraged students and parents to continue advocating for their rights in the face of such challenges. She reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra, is dedicated to protecting the rights of all communities and will actively oppose any policies or practices that seek to undermine the principles of equality and justice.
