After Rashad Hussain, the US Official (United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom) expressed his views on the Karnataka hijab controversy, India responded on Saturday, saying “motivated comments on our domestic matters are not welcome.” Arindam Bagchi, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, made the statement after a top US government official commented on the Karnataka hijab dispute, stating that religious freedom included the freedom to wear religious apparel of one’s choice.
Indian Diplomat replies to US Offical through Tweet
“The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka is investigating a dispute involving dress code in several educational institutions in the state of Karnataka. Mr. Bagchi explained that “problems are evaluated and handled in the context of our constitutional structure and system, as well as our democratic culture and polity.”
Our response to media queries on India’s reaction to comments by some countries on dress code in some educational institutions in Karnataka:https://t.co/Mrqa0M8fVr pic.twitter.com/pJlGmw82Kp
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 12, 2022
“Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls,” Mr. Hussain said in a statement about the unfolding problem in Karnataka. “The capacity to choose one’s religious dress is part of religious freedom. Mr. Hussain, who has been vocal on similar problems with the Uyghur minority in China and other locations where minority rights are under assault, stated that “the Indian state of Karnataka should not judge the permissibility of religious dress.”
Mr. Hussain is the most recent international voice to raise a concern about religious minority’ rights in India. The Pakistani government had previously expressed a similar viewpoint, with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi claiming that the incident was part of India’s “strategy of Muslim ghettoization.” Mr. Qureshi stated, “To deny somebody this fundamental right and harass them for wearing a headscarf is utterly totalitarian.”
Malaa also jumped in matter
“College is forcing us to choose between studies and the hijab”.
Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists — for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women. https://t.co/UGfuLWAR8I
— Malala (@Malala) February 8, 2022
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai echoed his sentiments, calling the exclusion of hijab-wearing young women from educational institutions “horrifying.” “Islamophobia has taken on a most fatal form in India, converting some 250 million Indian Muslims into a persecuted minority,” said Noam Chomsky, a linguist and civil rights advocate in the United States.