Stopping Muslims from wearing hijab is against Article 25 of the Constitution which talks about freedom of practising religion

NEW DELHI — Hijab is mandatory in Islam, asserted Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind on Saturday and claimed that stopping Muslim students from wearing it was against Article 25 of the Constitution which talks about freedom of practising religion.

The hijab controversy in Karnataka and other important social issues were discussed in detail at the Working Committee meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (Arshad Madani faction) held at its headquarters in New Delhi on February 26.

On hijab ban in Karnataka and elsewhere in the country, Maulana Arshad Madani, Jamiat Chief said some “so-called educated people” are giving a wrong impression that hijab is not obligatory in Islam and there is nothing mentioned about it in the Quran, while the fact is otherwise, reports PTI.

“There are Islamic guidelines on hijab in the Holy Quran and Hadith which clearly say that hijab is mandatory in Shariah,” Jamiat chief said.

The denial of Muslim students from wearing the hijab in colleges or elsewhere is against Article 25 of the Constitution which gives rights to minorities of practising their respective religions, Maulana Madani said.

India has no State religion but it gives complete freedom to all citizens to practice their religion, he added.

The Karnataka High Court concluded the hearing related to the hijab (headscarf) case on Friday, but reserved its order.

The Bench, constituted on February 9 and comprising the Chief Justice, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M Khazi, heard on a day-to-day basis over the last two weeks a batch of petitions filed by some girls seeking permission to wear the hijab in educational institutions where a uniform has been prescribed.

The protests began last month at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district when six students were allegedly barred from classes for insisting on wearing the hijab. The protests spread to more colleges in Udupi and beyond, with many students taking a confrontational position by showing up in saffron scarves and shouting slogans.