The row over wearing hijab, or veil, resulted in clashes and disruption of classes in a Catholic school in Kozhikode, a town in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Members of the Students Islamic Organization of India stormed Providence School, an all girls school, and clashed with police on Monday, September 26. At least 10 activists were reported to have been arrested.
The controversy arose in the century-old school managed by the Apostolic Carmel congregation after the school management decided to ban the wearing of hijab in the campus.
“Hijab is not part of their uniforms and girls should adhere to the uniform policy,” said the principal in a report on Janam Online, a news portal in Kerala.
The same policy is being followed in the century-old St. Agnes School and College in Mangaluru, a major town in the neighboring state of Karnataka.
Last year, several schools and colleges in an around Mangaluru were hit by the hijab controversy.
The Students Islamic Organization of India demanded the “de-recognition” of the Catholic school for banning hijab and for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.
The school principal clarified that parents and students were informed about the strict adherence to the school uniform policy.
But some students insisted wearing the hijab in school.
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