Bantwal: Muslim Girl Student Denied Entry to Class for Wearing Scarf
By Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)

Bantwal, Aug 17: An incident of a Muslim girl student being allegedly denied entry to the classroom of a prestigious college here, because she wore a veil over her head, has come to light on Monday August 17.

Ayesha Asmin, daughter of B Mohammed, a resident of Nehru Nagar near Panemangalur, was denied entry into her classroom in SVS College.  She was given a warning by the principal of the college on Thursday August 6 and has not attended any classes since then.  Ayesha was in tears when speaking to this reporter, at the prospect of losing one academic year.  

Ayesha said that she had completed her II PUC from Islamic Women’s School, Ira, and had joined SVS College recently.  Initially she used to wear a ‘burkha’ when attending her I B Com classes which commenced on July 11.  She switched to wearing ‘salwar kameez’ and wearing a scarf over her head on the advice of her college mates. 

Ayesha alleged that she was sternly warned by college student leader Bharat to adhere to the dress code adopted by all other girl students in the institution. She claims that she ignored this and continued to wear the scarf which even brought her verbal abuses from other students on campus.

She accused college principal Sitaram Mayya of asking her to choose between study and religion.  Ayesha was also asked to bring her father to meet the principal. Allegedly, Mayya then told Mohammed and his daughter to follow the dress code without giving them an opportunity to speak.  

The college managing committee has also come out in support of the principal and upheld his decision to bar Ayesha’s entry if she comes to college wearing a scarf over her head.

“Had the college authorities informed of such restrictions, we could have sought admission in another college.  It is an injustice to pressurize one to follow general dress code after paying donation and college fees”, says Ayesha.

Meanwhile, Jalal, taluk president, Students Islamic Organization (SIO) said that SIO will take up the cause against the injustice done to a student from the minority community. He said that they would seek support from the Gulf Islamic Organization in this regard. 

Anugraha Education Trust trustee Ibrahim Chendady opined that a complaint will be registered with the Women’s Commission and they would also garner support from University authorities, as well as various social welfare and voluntary organizations, to seek justice in the matter. 

Mayya has said that in the 41 years of the college’s history, no student has attended classes wearing a scarf.  He defended his stance saying that if students of various religions follow their own dress code, it would create a furore on the campus.