The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a decision by the Karnataka state government in India to revoke a 2022 order effectively banning the wearing of hijabs in government-run schools and colleges.
The move follows years of controversy and legal challenges surrounding the ban, which had been upheld by an Indian court in 2022 and widely criticized by human rights advocates and religious freedom organizations.
In 2022, CAIR condemned the Indian court ruling that upheld the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, in educational institutions in Karnataka, calling the decision discriminatory and a violation of religious freedom.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“CAIR welcomes this important step toward restoring religious freedom and equal access to education for Muslim students in India. No student should be forced to choose between their faith and their education. Policies targeting the hijab stigmatize Muslim women and girls and undermine the fundamental right to practice one’s religion freely.
“While this ruling is a positive development, the far-right Hindutva government of India continues to persecute and enable violence against Muslims and other religious minorities. We urge the State Department to designate India a country of particular concern.”
CAIR has repeatedly expressed concern over rising anti-Muslim discrimination and Hindu nationalist policies in India, including restrictions targeting Muslim religious practices and attire.
Earlier this year, CAIR welcomed a call by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for the U.S. government to place sanctions on India’s anti-Muslim, fascist, Nazi-inspired RSS militia and designate India a country of particular concern over its oppression of religious minorities.
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com