Hijab Row: Calling It ‘Horrifying’, Malala Asks Indian Leaders To Stop Marginalisation Of Muslim Women

Malala's post prompted a sharp response from BJP MLA and party national general secretary CT Ravi who questioned her interference in India's internal matter through a tweet

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace laureate (Getty Images)

New Delhi: Jumping into the hijab row, the Nobel Peace laureate and women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai on Tuesday said refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying.

Taking to her official Twitter handle, the activist said, “Objectification of women persists — for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women.”

Citing a report where a Muslim student said that they were being forced to choose between studies and the hijab, Malala expressed her views on the issue over the hijab controversy in Karnataka where Muslim girls wearing the headscarves are being barred from attending classes.

“College is forcing us to choose between studies and the hijab”.

Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists — for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women. https://t.co/UGfuLWAR8I

— Malala (@Malala) February 8, 2022

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The post prompted a sharp response from BJP MLA and party national general secretary CT Ravi. In a tweet Ravi said, "Who is this MOOLAH interfering in the internal affairs of India? Shouldn't she be hiding behind her burqa?"</p

Who is this MOOLAH interfering in the internal affairs of India?

Shouldn't she be hiding behind her burqa? https://t.co/SImk1yIE1j

— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) February 8, 2022

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Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan in 2012 for speaking up about the rights of girls and their education, also urged Indian leaders to stop marginalisation of Muslim women.

The controversy over wearing hijab (headscarves) by students crisscrossed the state borders of Karnataka to emerge in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry.

Supporting the ban on Hijab, Madhya Pradesh school education minister Inder Singh Parmar said the government will give priority to discipline.

In view of the protests, the Basavaraj Bommai-led government in Karnataka ordered the closure of schools for three days as protests spread across the state over the issue.

Many 'conflict-like' situations were witnessed in colleges caused by stone-pelting, use of force by police, and Muslim girls insisting on wearing the headscarves that prompted calls for peace and calm both by the government and the high court. The court is hearing a plea from the students over their right to wear the hijab.