Now, Al-Qaeda Chief Jumps Into Karnataka Hijab Ban Row. New Video Surfaces

The Egyptian-born doctor accused “the pagan Hindu democracy of India” for seeking to “oppress Muslims” reported the Daily Mail quoting translations provided by counter-terror experts on Twitter.

This handhout picture of a video grab provided by the SITE Intelligence Group on February 12, 2012 shows Al-Qaeda's chief Ayman al-Zawahiri at an undisclosed location making an announcment in a video-relayed audio message posted on jihadist forums. AFP PHOTO/SITE INTELLIGENCE GROUP

New Delhi: Al Qaeda leader and Osama Bin Laden’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zwahiri recently appeared in a new video — after rumours of his death made rounds— where he waded into the Karnataka Hijab row, reported the Daily Mail. 

In a nine-minute video released by Al Qaeda’s official media wing, As-Sahab Media, al-Zawahiri denounced “enemies of Islam” referring to the Hijab controversy that started in Karnataka. In the video, he also praised Muskan Khan who took on a group of students who objected to her for wearing hijab. 

The Egyptian-born doctor accused “the pagan Hindu democracy of India” for seeking to “oppress Muslims” reported the Daily Mail quoting translations provided by counter-terror experts on Twitter, including the SITE Intelligence Group that monitor jihadists website. 

al-Zawahiri also denounced France, Holland, Switzerland, Egypt and Morocco as “enemies of Islam” for their anti-hijab policies, reported the publication. He also criticised Pakistan and Bangladesh governments and accused them of defending “the very enemies that have empowered to fight us.” 

The petitioners in the Hijab case have challenged the Karnataka High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court, which is yet to give a date for hearing. 

A three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court last month had dismissed petitions seeking direction for permission to wear hijab inside educational institutions saying that hijab is not an “essential practice” in Islam. 

The class 10th exams that followed after Karnataka High Court’s ruling, seven teachers were suspended across the state for allowing students wearing hijab to sit for exam despite a government order in Karnataka that had mandated wearing of uniforms in educational institutions.