Turmoil in India over Hijab
India has experienced unrest over the last several weeks as some schools and colleges have banned students from wearing headscarves.
In January, a high school in the Indian state of Karnataka informed students that unless they removed their headscarves they would not be allowed on campus. In response a handful of female Muslim students protested the new policy claiming that this was an infringement upon their religious freedoms. The hijab and other head coverings are worn by many Muslim women in India.
What happened in India?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
Hijab row: The India woman who is the face of the fight to wear headscarf
BBC NEWS
February 10, 2022
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60328864
Violent clashes over hijab ban in southern India force schools to close
THE GUARDIAN
February 9, 2022
Hijab protests spread in India as girls refuse to be told what not to wear
CNN
February 15, 2022
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/india/hijab-karnataka-india-protest-intl-hnk/index.html
News Articles (Analyses):
Hijab ban in Indian state violates religious freedom: US official
ALJAZEERA
February 12, 2022
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/12/us-expresses-concern-over-india-hijab-row
Schools in southern India reopen after students banned from wearing hijabs and religious clothing
SKY NEWS
February 14, 2022
Madhya Pradesh college bans hijab after protests against it
HINDUSTAN TIMES
February 15, 2022
We Spoke to the Teenager Who Faced Off With Hindu Supremacists in India’s Growing Hijab Ban
VICE
February 11, 2022
https://www.vice.com/en/article/4awqk3/muskan-india-hijab-ban-karnataka-college
Assessment:
Writing: Why do Muslims feel targeted in India?
Debate: Should religious symbols be allowed to be worn in school?
Poll: Should the international community impose sanctions on India for its ban on headscarves?
Short Answer: What is the significance of headscarves being banned in some Indian schools?
QUIZ:
Most of India’s population is Muslim. (T/F)
The international community has been critical of India’s ban on head coverings. (T/F)
Laws recently passed in Karnataka support religious freedom. (T/F)
Which of the following controls the federal government in India?
- Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Indian National Congress.
- Communist Party of India.
- National People’s Party
What served as the catalyst for the protests by students?
a. Increase in tuition.
b. Ban on headscarves.
c. Teacher layoffs.
d. Mask requirement.
All the following are true in Karnataka EXCEPT.
a. Temporary closure of schools and colleges.
b. Rules preventing people from gathering outside schools.
c. Temporary closure of media outlets.
d. Laws preventing people from slaughtering cows.
