MUSLIM GIRLS TOLD NOT TO WEAR SCARVES

A school in Barabanki district has barred Muslim students from wearing headscarves to class on the ground that the scarves do not match the dress code of the school.

Anand Vihar School, a missionary school, has objected to one of its Muslim students wearing a headscarf to school. When the student’s father sought permission for the same in a written application to the principal, he received back the following reply. “It is to clarify you that this is a minority school, but there are many communities in minority category, and one community cannot impose its rules on other communities. The school will not be able to provide any exemption to its rules,” letter read.

Principal Archana Thomas also asked him to not ‘disrupt the school’s functioning by asking unnecessary questions’.

“If you face any inconvenience, you can admit your ward in an Islamic school,” she told the student’s father.

Talking to reporters on Friday, Mohd R. Rizvi, the father of the student said that his daughter had been studying in the school since kindergarten, and as per Islam tradition, she had to cover her hair after reaching the age of nine.

“My daughter was asked not to wear headscarf to school, another girl was made to remove it as well. I argued that our Sikh brothers are also allowed even though their turban is not part of the dress code", he said.

The principal, meanwhile, said that the letter did not imply that the students were told to leave school. “It said if they have a problem with the rules, they can admit their child in another school, not necessarily an Islamic school,” the principal said.