Lucknow, March 16, 2022 (PPI-OT): The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has expressed ‘regret and disappointment’ on the Karnataka High Court order upholding the ban on head scarf/ hijab in educational institutions in Indian southern state Karnatna.

AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani told reporters in Lucknow that the board will be holding an online meeting soon to discuss the way forward on the issue apart from tabling the matter in an offline meeting to be held at the end of March. AIMPLB has previously expressed intent to move the Indian top on the issue.

Rahmani called Tuesday’s HC order a ‘discriminatory one towards Muslims’, making comparisons with certain governments altering aviation laws to appease a community and governments allowing some groups and communities to use their religious symbols.

He also refuted the claim that head scarf/ hijab is not essential to Islam and said banning it is intrusion in constitutional rights of Muslim citizens. “Islam and Shariat have made certain things farz (duty) and wajib (obligatory) on Muslims and it is lazim (pre-requisite) that they be followed. Hijab is one such obligation which is a pre-requisite,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband also said it is ‘disagreed’ with the decision of the Karnataka High Court regarding the head scarf/ hijab ban in educational institutions. It urged Muslim societies and NGOs to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.

Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the vice-chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, said: “Not just Muslims but all religions have freedom in India. In a democratic setup, no government or government-recognised organisation should make any law that is against the spirit of the Constitution. No such code of conduct should be enforced that is against any religion.”

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