The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad. Pakistan conveyed its grave concern and condemnation on the act of banning Muslim students from wearing Hijab in the Indian state of Karnataka.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Pakistan deplores the reprehensible act of banning Muslim girl students from wearing Hijab in Indian state of Karnataka.
The Spokesperson said Pakistan further conveyed deep concern to Indian diplomat that religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation and discrimination against Muslims continue unabated even after almost two years of the horrific Delhi riots.
Earlier, in Karnataka an Indian state is having a controversy regarding the hijab. Since the current controversy was yet to fade away, another video surfaced on the internet. Students covered with Saffron shawls harrassed a burqa-clad student. Muhammad Zubair the founder of Alt News posted the video with the caption:
“When a Muslim girl named Muskan Khan arrived at PES College, a number of students wearing saffron shawls harassed her.”
A dispute has stretched over one a half months between the administration and the students. It was about hijab in several colleges. the matter was taken to the High Court. However, the saffron shawls are now being compared to the hijab which reflects the division among the Indian Society.
The viral social media video consists of a student in a burqa arriving at PES College Bangalore on a scooter, while hundreds of students with saffron shawls started harassing the girl as she was walking towards the college. In response to the harassment, the girl replied by chanting a slogan “Allah o Akbar” while also talking in the language of her locality saying, ‘Don’t we have the right to wear hijab’
Muslim Student Muskan Khan Harassed by Her College Mates
The girl stated that she only went to submit an assignment to the college. The harassment of Muskan Khan, took place in Karnataka by boys waving saffron shawls. Moreover, the girl explained that she has always worn a burqa and she wore the only hijab in college. The principal never objected to her decision and this uproar only began in the past week.
Furthermore, when reporter asked the girl:
“When so many harassers surrounded you, did it frighten you?”
The Muslim girl Muskan replied:
“No, It didn’t upset me at all. I was just going to submit an assignment, but because I was wearing a burqa, they wouldn’t let me into college,”