India court upholds ban on hijab in schools and colleges

March 15 2022 09:16:14

India court upholds ban on hijab in schools and colleges

NEW DELHI

A court in a southern Indian state has upheld the ban on wearing hijab in schools and colleges, saying the Muslim headscarf is not an essential religious practice of Islam.

The high court in Karnataka state delivered the verdict Tuesday after considering petitions filed by Muslim students challenging a government ban on hijabs.

The dispute began in January when a government-run school in Karnataka’s Udupi district barred students wearing hijabs from entering classrooms, triggering protests by Muslims.

More schools in the state followed with similar bans and the state’s top court disallowed students from wearing hijab until it delivered a verdict.

In India, where Muslims make up 14% of the country’s 1.4 billion people, the hijab has historically been neither prohibited nor limited in public spheres.

2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire'

Greece’s former royal family seeks to reclaim citizenship

Winter hitting Gaza as many have little protection from the cold

Syria’s interim government begins to take shape

India child marriage crackdown reaches nearly 5,000 arrests

Ukraine drone hits Russian high-rise 1,000km from frontline

Angry questions in Germany after Christmas market attack

WORLD

2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire'

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Dec. 22 in "an apparent case of friendly fire," the American military has said.

ECONOMY

Türkiye to receive larger foreign capital: Chamber head

Türkiye is expected to receive larger foreign capital and resource inflows next year as its economy becomes increasingly more stable and incentives investors, according to Erdal Bahçıvan, chairman of the board of directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO).

SPORTS

Fenerbahçe in tatters after Athletic loss

Fenerbahçe headed into turbulent times after a home loss in the Europa League against Athletic Bilbao on Dec. 11 night added to the club’s wounds and sparked fan protests.