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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan this week expressed “serious concern” as an Indian court upheld a ban on wearing the Muslim headscarf at schools in the southern state of Karnataka on the grounds the hijab was not an "essential religious practice" in Islam.
The ban, imposed last month, sparked protests by some Muslim, and counter-protests by Hindu, students. Critics say the ban is another reflection of efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP party to marginalize Muslims who account for roughly 13% of India's 1.35 billion people. The country is majority Hindu.
“The decision manifestly has failed to uphold the principle of freedom to religious practices and impinges on the human rights,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Equally sad is the fact that the judiciary in India which is expected to act as a bulwark against dehumanization, stigmatization and discrimination against minorities has completely failed to uphold the principles of justice and equality. This decision marks a fresh low in the relentless anti-Muslim campaign where even the pretext of secularism is being weaponized to target Muslims.”
Pakistan said it feared the ruling could set a precedent for the rest of India and its large Muslim minority.
On Tuesday, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi of the High Court of Karnataka said in the judgement the government had the power to prescribe uniform guidelines, dismissing various petitions challenging the ban ordered by Karnataka.
"We are of the considered opinion that the prescription of school uniform is only a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to," Awasthi said.