Kochi: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has said that the hijab row is “not a controversy but a conspiracy” to push back Muslim women. He states that there is no conflict between religion and education, the purpose of religion is to make men acquire knowledge. Governor also added that the argument that hijab is an essential practice in Islam and therefore requires the protection of the Constitution’s Article 25.
Quoting the Supreme Court, Khan said that it has laid down that any aspect on which one claims the protection of the Constitution’s Article 25, has to be “essential, intrinsic and integral to the practice of faith”.
In Karnataka’s Udupi last month some students protested against the hijab row and fueled the fire of fighting for their rights. The incident drew retaliation from students of other religion who insisted on coming in saffron scarves. The confrontation spread rapidly through the state. Protests were held and Muslim girls were humiliated. This led to the closure of schools and colleges.
Pointing out a religious book Khan said that the religious book in Islam describes that there are only 5 essential features which are called Arkan e Islam. “This are — the affirmation of faith through kalima, prayer at regular intervals, fasting during Ramzan, charity and for those who can afford it, haj. There can be “no addition or deletion” in these, he said.
“When you apply the essential tests, then this argument that this (hijab) is part of religious freedom — no. The Supreme Court has said that only the essential features which are integral to the practice of faith — only they will receive the protection of Article 25. Hijab is definitely not one of them,” Mr Khan added.
When he was questioned about the current hijab row is affecting the studies of young girls and women, he said that it is a fallout of total ignorance.
Pointing out that the first word in Quran is “Read”, he said man is not only exhorted to read the name of God. Quoting relevant passages, he said man has been asked to contemplate about animals, stars and space, and has been asked to go to China if need be in search of knowledge. “More than 700 words in Quran that mean knowledge, think about, meditate,” he said, adding the religion is about the search of knowledge.
As for the controversy, around headscarves in Karnataka that has been continuing for more than a month, it is a “sinister design” to push back Muslim women, especially the young girls.
After the ban on triple talaq – the practice of instant divorce by uttering talaq thrice – Muslim women, he said, are feeling liberated. “They are having a sense of freedom. They are pursuing education. They are joining great career. This is a conspiracy,” he added.
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