Muslim women being humiliated, dehumanised in name of uniformity, law & order: Fraternity Movement
Says "HC's interim order not only problematic, but enabling apartheid against Muslim women"
Bengaluru: A delegation of Fraternity Movement which toured Karnataka from February 25-28 amidst the Hijab row in the state, has released its finding in light of the ban on Hijab in classrooms and college campuses that started in Coastal Karnataka.
The delegation, according to an official press statement, collected testaments and took stock of the situation after the state-wide Hijab ban and subsequent row.
In its findings, the delegation has added that the ban is a targeted hate crime aimed to disempower young Muslim women and segregate the students on the lines of religion.
“We have found that hundreds of Muslim women are expelled from attending classes in the state, following the court interim order, in prima facia violation of human rights. The interim order is not only problematic to the beliefs and practices of the Muslim community but in fact enabling apartheid against Muslim women. In the name of uniformity and law & order, they are being humiliated and dehumanised,” the press release stated.
It further added that Muslim women in the state are being put in “an unfortunate position” and are being made to make a choice between their education and faith, both of which the press statement termed as basic human rights.
“The brave Muslim students are unwilling to compromise on either. They are concerned that they are or will be missing their exams which is adding on the anxieties and insecurities that surround them. These are teenage students who are burdened to brave this herculean fight for their identity and dignity,” it added.
It also added that several Muslim male students they made were physically harassed and attacked by their classmates affiliated to Hindutva right wing groups adding that it was concerning how ABVP and other right-wing groups were reacting to the situation without any checks.
It also pointed how a young Muslim student Muskan Khan was being heckled by a group of Hindutva activists and students at the college campus in Madikeri, the video of which went viral creating shockwaves across the country.
“We all saw the video where Muskan was heckled by 30-40 odd hindu students radicaliesed by the RSS donning saffron stoles that surfaced from Mandya, Karnataka. As everyone moves on from the incident we want to stress that the situation is all the more tense and serious.
“The whole issue escalated only after members of the ABVP and other right wing outfits started a mobilization against hijab distributing saffron stoles and invoking Hindu supremacy. This incident is an example of the patterned way in which these organisations work,” it further added.
The delegation also slammed the state government over their inability to contain the situation and blamed the BJP ministers of furthering hate and Islamophobia. “The Karnataka BJP is trying to turn this issue of rights into international conspiracy. The Home Minister has also ordered a probe into the terror links into the matter. The stereotypical suspicion that surrounds muslims is being invoked to rob the marginalised off its humanity and dignity,” it stated.
“Local and regional media channels are further harassing and intimidating the affected Muslim students. They are violating not only media ethics but all moral ethics. Saffron television channels are using this incident to demonise and stereotype Muslims to manufacture a collective apathy that will further normalise attacks on Muslims and their religious practices.
“We found out that incidents of violence and physical assault in several districts especially in Shimoga are directly unleashed at the members of the Muslim community. The affected areas have been barricaded by police and section 144 has been imposed making it impossible to monitor the situation and intensity of violence. Several videos that came out are evidence that the police was silent onlooker of the attacks,” the press statement further added.
Listing out its demands after based on their findings during the visit, the Fraternity Movement added the Hijab ban should immediately be revoked along with the “discriminatory interim order” and demanded that the government should direct CDC and college administrations to ensure that students allowed to appear fo exams that they have missed or that may be miss because of the ban.
It also called for arrangement of law enforcement for the safe and dignified return of Muslim students to schools and colleges while all FIRs filed on the protesting Muslim students should also be withdrawn.
Among the other demands of the Fraternity Movement were police action against the right-wing outfits and pro-Hindutva students who were involved in communalising the matter and heckling Muslim women, impartial probe into the violence that broke out in Shivamogga and other areas and action against the culprits while also providing compensation to those who have incurred property loss during the violence.
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Tree planting now mandatory for arms licence in UP's Mathura, says DM
Mathura (UP), Apr 9 (PTI): In a novel step towards environmental conservation, the administration in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has made planting trees a mandatory requirement for obtaining, renewing or transferring arms licences.
According to an official release issued by the District Information Department, applicants will now be required to plant 10 trees either on private land or on public land anywhere within the district. The application must be submitted along with geo-tagged proof of the plantation, the release said.
District Magistrate Chandraprakash Singh, who introduced the measure, said the new condition will be applicable in addition to all previously-existing conditions for acquiring arms licences.
"This move is aimed at encouraging citizens to contribute meaningfully towards environmental protection while fulfilling their personal needs," he said.
"The responsibility for maintaining and protecting these trees will also lie with the applicants themselves," Singh added, emphasising that public participation is key to ensuring the survival of the planted saplings.
District Information Officer Prashant Suchari shared the details of the initiative on Wednesday and called it an important step in raising awareness about environmental preservation.
"This initiative not only aligns with administrative responsibilities but also reinforces the collective duty of citizens toward sustaining the environment," he said.
