Muslim Community In Pune Organizes Protest In Favour Of Hijab
Camp/Kondhwa, 18th February 2022: The Muslim community members today gathered in large numbers in Kondhwa and Azam Campus in Camp to show solidarity with girls in Karnataka who facing the ire for wearing Hijab to schools and colleges. A heavy police bandobast was deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Over 2000 persons had gathered at Azam Campus in Camp at the protest called by Kul Jamat-E-Tanzeem, an umbrella body of Muslim organisations in Pune.
Addressing the gathering, social activist Sushma Andhare said, “The constitution of India guarantees religious freedom. Therefore, Muslim women who want to wear Hijab can do so as it is a religious practice. The right-wing political forces are trying to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims.”
Kul Jamat-E Tanzeem Co-ordinator Zahid Shaikh told PunekarNews.in, “We have gathered to show the government about the importance of wearing Hijab as per religion. We request the state government not to allow similar incidents in Maharashtra as they are happening in Karnataka.”
He also alleged that police were not in favour of today’s protest as they asked to hold two protests -one in Kondhwa and the other at Azam Campus. Thus, preventing the gathering of people in large numbers at the same time.
Protester Fatima Mujawar said, “The Hijab issue has been created to bring political benefits to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.”
Another speaker Zoya Khan said, “If a woman can decide that she wants to wear shorts or a bikini, then a woman can also decide to wear Hijab or headscarf.”