India: Muslim Student Leaves College Over Headscarf Row

A Muslim girl who was asked by her college near Mangalore, India, to stop wearing her headscarf to class due to classmates' complaints has left her studies as a result, NDTV reports.

The Mangalore College has defended its request, saying it did so not on the basis of any personal issues but because they wish to quell tensions between Muslim and Hindu students.

The college principal said, "It is one rule for all students. She is the only one not following the rule."

There have been an increasing number of reports about Hindus and Muslims being asked not to speak to one another or to eat together in restaurants, NDTV reports.

Confrontations between Muslim and non-Muslims revolving around traditional Muslim dress have been surfacing in recent weeks.

A Paris pool refused entry to a Muslim woman recently for showing up in a burqini, swimwear resembling a wetsuit which covers the body from head to toe and incorporates a hood. She had been previously admitted to the same pool but on the latter occasion was told she could not enter unless wearing traditional swimming attire.

Earlier this summer, young pregnant Muslim woman Marwa al-Sherbini was stabbed to death in a German courtroom by a man who had previously called her a "terrorist" and tried to take her headscarf.

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Comments

[SFA]

Hi,

Here is link to newspaper of the city were this incident happened.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=141195


:- some back ground, this state has recently been won by BJP a Right Wing Party for the first time .The BJP does not have presence in Southern India, this is the only state they have won in 60 years of India's Indpendece in Southern India.

Creating communal tension, random stabbing, descreation of both temple & mosque, small communal incidents have been going on in this city for quite some time.
This is their way of consolidating their base by dividing the elctorate.

Recently women have been beaten for wearing jeans etc ,also women were beaten for going to pubs.These have things are being done by Right wing fringe with links to you can guess who.

[riff4u]

I am glad the young lady stood up for her beliefs. I hope she continues her studies elsewhere.

[duxguts]

She must not have been very serious about her studies by the sound of it.

[WilliamL]

The non-sense never ends of religion.

[NevaforLeadership]

Good for the Indian students.

It is time more people spoke out against Muslim costume.

[Tenjikuronin]

I agree.

[SFA]

College just got a sho cause notice fromthe distric administration.
It's time people spoke out against Islamophobia.

[Bigidea]

I wonder if I can start a religion with no clothes at all. That way we will all be close to god and the way he intended us to be. Well, if Muslims want to join our new religion they can cover their heads.

[Yves Papa]

Ha!

[Abd-ul-Latif]

I see this type of comment CONSTANTLY. OK, a few questions.
(1) How many of us "speaking out" would be about enough? How often should I speak out to be considered a good American?
(2) If I were to speak out - say, a pointless letter to the editor of my local newspaper - would you ever know about it?
(3) Why don't Christians, Hindus, Jews, etc. speak out to denounce the GREATER violence (in terms of BODY COUNT, not attention-getting media displays) that THEIR communities have committed?

[mr101]

Please familiarize yourself with the genocide of Bangladeshis committed by Pakistan in 1971, where 3 million people were killed and 200,000 women raped by Pakistani forces up direct orders from their generals: http://www.liberationwarmuseum.org/liberationwar.html#01
I quote:

"First ever nation wide parliamentary election in Pakistan was held in December 1970 to January 1971. Nationalist Forces lead by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won overwhelming victory in East Pakistan and became majority party in entire Pakistan. But Pakistan military regime conspired to stop his Awami League party to take over power..
GENOCIDE AND ATROCITIES

Between March 25 and December 16, estimated 3 million Bengalees were killed, 200000 women raped and 10 million were displaced. This was the worst genocide after Second World War. This was mass killing of innocent civilian, men, women and children too part of the country was spared. Killing field can be found in every town and village.

Killing was particularly targeted towards youth, religious minorities and democratic forces. In the final days of liberation war, local fundamentalist collaborators of Pakistan Army named Al-badar and Al-shams took leading intellectuals including writers, journalists, doctors, lawyers and engineers blindfolded, killed them and dumped them in Dhaka city outskirts."

[mr101]

"in terms of BODY COUNT"

Are you aware of Pakistan's genocide and ethnic-cleaning of Bangladeshis?
From Bangladesh Liberation War Museum ( http://www.liberationwarmuseum.org/liberationwar.html#01 ): "Between March 25 and December 16, estimated 3 million Bengalees were killed, 200000 women raped and 10 million were displaced. This was the worst genocide after Second World War."

[toxicbrainpoison]

Thats terrible its discrimination. Why are they segregating them? I grew up with friends who wore headscarves in the US. If we can accept it here then they really need to get over it out there.

[zanzig]

I honestly don't know the deatil of this particular situation as the Indian newspapers have, unusually for them, been rather circumspect about this story. But I do know that in my 50 years of regular visits to India to visit relatives, I have seen the increasing use of hijabs and even burkas by Indian Muslim women, just in the past decade. 20 years ago very few Indian Muslim women followed this demeaning practice of hiding their body and hair (and sometimes their face) from all passers-by. In fact it was almost accepted that Indian Muslim women actually were slightly more emancipated than traditional Hindu women. In the past decade however, Indian Muslims appear to have been co-opted into the world-wide Islamisation of the religion, which has seen a greater adherence to the words of misogynistic mullahs living in caves somewhere. Perhaps this action by Mangalore College is a reaction to that?

[SFA]

these are the work of Right wing fringe affliated to the Present BJP(Our Republicans).

This particualr town , has recently been in the news coz of religious tensions, small sporadic incidents , intimedting etc.

Actually , it was a local college student leader(affliated to right wing), who objected.
This forced the hand of the principal of the college.

Earlier the girl was wearing a burkha(Without face cover), after talking to principal. she only wore a scarf.they then objected to it too.

Even then she was harrase, since there is a right wing Gov. in that state, these fringe elements have a free run.

Many people have objection to burkkha etc coz , they believe women then are home bound & can not work etc.
This girl is doing B.Com(Bachelaor in Commerce ,three year cource)Will most probably study further , get a job & go on with her life.What's wrong with that.

So what's the problem,she is tudying , most probably will work, so why can't she even wear scarf.


Note:- this is mainly work of right wing fringe & their intimidation tactics, i certainly can tell you it's very rare for any objecting if girl student wear a burkha.Most people are more then respectful of it.

I studied in (2years) were 98% students were muslims, only one girl wore a burkha out of some 2000-3000 students. girl boy ratio 45-55 (approx).

[mr101]

A sorely missing common national identity is at the root of most of India's problems (besides Chinese and Pakistani meddling.)

[SFA]

Hi, i think you are making a mistake over here.
Let me explain your observation , i am from Delhi(India)
I hardly see any women wearing Burkha in Delhi
Even if you see a women wearing a burkha
(a)She is old(in her 40's ), she wore it all her life, tough to change
(b)If you are in the city, many people immigrate from village to place like delhi, so that's how they are brought up
Have you been to Any of Delhi's market recenly, you may find a women wearing a Burkha & her daughter in Jeans & Kurta(Mix & match two dresses),The point is women is not wearing a burkha(daughter)

Manglore Incident,It's in state ruled by Right Wing Party(BJP,our very own Republicans).
There latley have been tension in that state.These right wing forces won the state for the first time in previous election.This is also the only state in Southern India were they have presence.

So this is one of their ways to consolidate their base in this state.

The girl was initally threatend by senior students,affliated to right wing fringe.
Pressure was bult up on Principal,She was asked not to wear a burkha, she complied .But she wore a scarf, they even had a problem with that.

This girl is studying in B.Com(Bachelor of Commerce, 3 year cource),she's is in the first year.
So just tell me , she is studying,most probably will study further & have job.What is wrong if she wears a scarf or a burkha?

[Tenjikuronin]

BJP is hardly right wing. If anything, they have shifted so far to the center that they are now considered moderate in the eyes of other actual Right Wing parties (none of which are remotely similar to Republicans in any way).

[mr101]

Most people in and from the Indian subcontinent have a Hindu ancestry if we go high up in their genealogical trees. If all of them took note of this, and took pride in their shared 5000+ Indian civilization (which, among other things, invented formal grammar in 500BC, the number zero and the decimal number system around 500-600 AD, etc), there will greater be camaraderie among all people in the region, and a strong national identity would emerge among Indians. That would make for peace, progress and prosperity. One of the main reasons China is doing so well is because the Chinese are proud of the (good parts) of their heritage.

[Sonni]

It has long been the worst trick of the evil one to convince people to act irrational over customs, traditions, culture, religion and geography. Keeping all the world in a constant state of turmoil.

[SFA]

yep!!!!!!

[CLUTCHface]

Let me take a wild guess: The Indian college will still allow Sikh turbans to be worn!

Sounds like a case of Islamaphobia to me...

[Sonni]

Interesting point. Sikhism is very strict about the head covering.

[ForeverXL]

at least sikhs do not terrorise the entire world....

[SFA]

you dont know anyting, who terrorises who.

America, you poodle UK(sorry guys , that's how Tony Blair behaved)
Russia
China

[OliverTwist]

Yes. It is true that Christians are murdering people all around the globe. But this article is not about them or that behavior.

[Yves Papa]

Yes, but Sikhs leave others alone. These burquists want everyone to be forced into their tradition. What you deprecate as a "..phobia" (a psychological slur) is a justified concern that they will end up forcing their rules on everyone, as they have been trying to do in Pakistan, Afganistan, etc...

[hillpill]

Seems like the Mangalore "Moral Police" target women mostly, taliban style...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yg-bdlmko

[Marjiecanuck]

Yup , India with its 4000 year old history of accepting people of every race and religion, and allowing them to build synagogues, mosques and Churches, where 150 million muslims chose to live rather than move to newly created land of pure 'Pakistan' which managed to ethnically cleanse itself by killing all Hindus , Sikhs and most Christians is the same as Taliban.

[hillpill]

I'm not talking about Indians in general, but about that particular section (extremist minority, I might add, but manipulative by scheming politicians) which takes it upon itself to impose its moral beliefs upon others. The views of this section and styles of functioning are similar to that of the Taliban. I am certainly not painting the whole of the culturally rich and superlatively tolerant India with that brush. Please read my comment carefully before unleashing your misguided sarcasm.

[rtb61]

Far more sensible to simply reclaim the head scarf outside of religion. Years ago women of all nationalities and religion wore head scarves, kept the hair in place when outside, a bit of warmth, kept hair dry in light rain and added a touch of colour without adding a touch of colour (hair dye). So simply reclaim the scarf as a religion neutral bit of clothing and put an end to the issue. Next thing people will be picking on nuns, 'hmmm'.

[minimalist syntax]

I wonder if "secular" headscarves are not really residues of religious customs.

[IndianSecular]

This is a very minor incidents. Indian Hindu girls have passed through this type of incidents so many times and come bounced strongly. Now the girls are leading students in every educational institutes. Percentage pass of girl students are high compared to boy students. Girls get more ranks compared to boys. For achieving such goals girls had to pass through very hard phases at the hands of chritian schools. Many of christian schools don't allow girls to wear bindi, bangles, mehendi, etc. Convent shcools are even insulting students for speaking in native languages by imposing heavy fines. The christian schools were and are doing all types of religious discrimination to promote its own non-secular values. This incident is just a minor incident compared to rules imposed by christian schools.

[Wolves50]

Practitiioners of Islam around the world need to do more to denounce terrorism. Not doing so marginalizes them to other people, even though the majority of them do not actively support terrorism. I do not see enough muslims speaking out against it.

[Khirad]

http://www.juancole.com/2005/07/friedman-wrong-about-muslims-again-and.html

This is a tad old, and imperfect, but I ask: what more would you like to see? True, more could be said, but in my experience, whenever Muslims have spoken out, cameras and news coverage are curiously absent. And what of Indonesian and Pakistani voters rejecting Islamist political parties, the demonstrations in Iran? I also read frequent editorials in Pakistani newspapers excoriating fundamentalists, both Taliban, and the kind which Zia-ul-Haqq wrought.

More can be said, much more; but how much of the perceived paucity is perception and self-fulfilling prophecies of a conclusion most have already decided upon?

[SFA]

See, Open you eyes,

Some serch terms for you ; Deoband India denounces Terrorism

[NevaforLeadership]

Wolves50.

That is a great post. I think exactly the same way.

A deafening silence.

[blutigeroo]

From my experience it is denounced loudly in Mosques etc. BUT only the supporters of terrorism make it to the front page of the newspaper and on the news.
Also, there is whole issue about the war on terror actually being a crusade/war on Islam (re: Bush's speeches, Erik Prince, Illegal war on Iraq, refusal to accept the proposal of handing over OBL peacefully and Irans' nuclear ambitions proposal and torture, defacing the Quran at Gitmo and finally all the negative press). Many Muslims strongly supported the Afghan war but this support is beginning to sour. Now more and more see this as another war on Islam style 'holocaust'
An attitude change on both sides is vital.

[bismillah001]

What, no Muslims rang your doorbell to speak out against terrorism, so you say they aren't doing enough? Have you ever talked to a Muslim? That is the biggest myth I've ever heard.

On Huffpo alone:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-eteraz/the-myth-of-muslim-condem_b_67904.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamran-pasha/the-big-lie-about-muslim_b_188991.html

Just a taste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPG9JWtPp5Y