Remove Hijab or Go to Islamic School: UP School Tells Muslim Girls

The female students were reportedly told by the missionary school authorities that it was against the dress code.

In a bizarre diktat by a missionary school in UP’s Barabanki, Muslim girls have been barred from wearing headscarves saying that ‘it is against the school’s dress code’. The principal at Anand Bhawan School, Archana Thomas, asked a Muslim girl to either stop wearing headscarves or go to an Islamic school.

Principal ma’am denied the permission. Next day, when I wore the scarf, she called me and snatched away my scarf. My cousin, too, was denied permission and was scolded for wearing the headscarf to school.

The girl who was asked not to wear a headscarf, to News18

The school administration sent a notice to the parents to ‘abide by the school’s dresscode’. Mohammad Rizvi, the girl’s father, said that they had prior permission to wear the headscarf and that she has been wearing it to school since the age of 9.

My daughter was asked not to wear headscarf to school, another girl was made to remove it as well. In a letter, we were even advised by the school to leave the school and shift to an Islamic Institute if we have problem with this direction.

Mohammad Rizvi, girl’s father to ANI

According to the notice from the school, he was advised to shift his daughter to an Islamic institute if he had a problem with the dress code.

The girl’s father also said that if Sikh boys were allowed to wear turbans, why can’t Muslim girls wear headscarves?

Rizvi also sought the government’s help in the matter but did not get any response.

I met the District Magistrate over this issue, but he treated me badly. I have written to deputy CM, union minority affairs minister, HRD minister, minority commission, Basic Shiksha Adhikari and the Human Rights Commission but all my efforts have gone in vain so far.

Mohammad Rizvi, girl’s father, to News18

According to Outlook, the school's principal meanwhile said that the letter did not imply that the students were told to leave school.

All I want to say is that if you have any problem with the rules of this school then kindly take your ward somewhere else. All the rules and regulations of our school have been clearly mentioned in the prospectus.

Archana Thomas, principal of the school

In the letter, she also asked the parents ‘not to waste her time with such questions’. The student’s father has sought a meeting with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who is scheduled to visit Barabanki on 25 November.

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