About 250 women on Sunday took to the streets and protested against a hijab ban in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. This is a tale of bravado, togetherness and hope.

Hijab Ban Row: Divided by Colonial Rulers, United By Hijab

A war over dress code in educational institutions has been brewing in Karnataka, a south Indian state for the past few weeks. Protests erupted across the state after certain educational institutions barred students wearing hijab to attend classes.

A war over dress code in educational institutions has been brewing in Karnataka, a south Indian state for the past few weeks. Protests erupted across the state after certain educational institutions barred students wearing hijab to attend classes. In parts of Karnataka, authorities prevented some students from attending college as they insisted on wearing Hijab- a traditional Muslim scarf to the classroom. Karnataka hijab row: From dress code to protests, what really is the issue? The protests have now reached the national level, with people debating for and against the issue. Islamic ways of covering the head, the face has always been subjected to scrutiny, forward and ban in several parts of the world. In recent times, Burkini, a swimwear worn by several Muslim women, was banned on beaches of France. Here's the back story. The origin The Burkini is not a traditional clothing, but was made by Australian designer Aheda Zanetti who decided to create the outfit keeping in mind the Islamic traditional burqa. Zanetti recognised that there was a lack of sportswear for Muslim girls and women that would meet the needs of both modesty and physical activity, so she designed some culturally appropriate activewear clothing. Before this, there was no outfit that catered to the Muslim community and their tradition. Many Muslim women were uncomfortable going to public pools and beaches. The Burkini typically covers the whole body except the face, the hands and the feet. The suit is similar to a wetsuit or a bodysuit and is light enough for swimming. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Islamic Swimsuit (@burkinis) × The controversy In 2016, a number of French municipalities banned the wearing of burkinis to their beaches. The ban sparked international controversy and France was accused of Islamophobia. Back in August 2009, a woman in France was barred from swimming in a public pool as she was wearing a Burkini. The ban was justified by referring to a French law that prevents anyone from using public pools in street clothes. France is known to encourage a 'religiously neutral arena' which means French law emphasises that people should appear similar in public spaces and be treated equally. The controversy died down for years until August 2016 when the mayor of Cannes banned Burkini on the beaches citing a possible link to Islamic extremism. 20 other French towns subsequently joined the ban. Several women were issued fines across the country for wearing an outfit that did not 'respect good morals and secularism. It is important to note that the authorities felt the women- covered from head to toe- were disrupting the secular fabric of the country. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Islamic Swimsuit (@burkinis) × Some women were even verbally attacked by bystanders when they were confronted by the police. Enforcement of the ban also hit beachgoers wearing a wide range of modest attire besides the burkini. Media reports cited that in one case, armed police forced a woman to remove the burkini she was wearing over her clothes on a beach in Nice. The Mayor's office though denied the incident although the woman was condemned for wearing an outing that 'provoked the public' in the aftermath of the Nice terrorist attack. While France put a ban on the outfit, it ironically resulted in a significant increase in sales of the famed outfit among Muslim as well as non-Muslim women - especially for those who were survivors of skin cancer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Islamic Swimsuit (@burkinis) × Not just France, even Germany in 2018 called for a ban on the burkini citing hygiene concerns. The outfit was banned in public pools. Following protests, in June 2019, German courts overruled and lifted the ban citing violations to the German constitution's call for equality. In 2014, Morocco too had placed a ban on the outfit citing hygiene issues. In 2017, the Swiss city of Geneva passed a law requiring swimmers to wear swimsuits that do not go lower than the knee and keep the swimmer's arms bare. In both countries, the laws were met with protests.

Remember Burkini? The other controversial outfit before Hijab row

<p>The ongoing Karnataka hijab controversy continues to draw reactions from Bollywood celebrities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Thursday, Kangana Ranaut shared her thoughts on the matter. Taking to her Instagram stories, the actress shared a post reading, "Iran. 1973 and now. From Bikini to Burqa in fifty years flat. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The first half of the picture shows a group of girls sitting in a bikini, while the other half of the picture shows women wearing burqas.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-remember-burkini-the-other-controversial-outfit-before-hijab-row-452193" hreflang="en">Remember Burkini? The other controversial outfit before Hijab row</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of “MANLINESS” . What a pity</p>
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Javedakhtarjadu/status/1491652911541424131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sharing the post, Kangana wrote, “If you want to show courage, show it by not wearing burqua in Afghanistan… Learn to break free, not cage yourself.” She was reacting to a tweet about how things had changed in Iran after the revolution, particularly for women.<br />
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Now, slamming Ranaut's comment, veteran actress Shabana Azmi wrote in a tweet, “Correct me if Im wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic ?!!”</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/explainer-hijab-niqab-burqa-the-different-islamic-clothing-for-women-451678" hreflang="en">Explainer: Hijab, Niqab, Burqa, the different Islamic clothing for women</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Correct me if Im wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic ?!! <a href="https://t.co/0bVUxK9Uq7">pic.twitter.com/0bVUxK9Uq7</a></p>
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzmiShabana/status/1491965518844432388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier, Bollywood veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, in a series of tweets reacted to the hijab row, saying that he has, and remains, against ‘burqa and hijab’, but has ‘nothing but deep contempt for the ‘mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully’.<br />
<br />
''I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time, I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of 'MANLINESS'. What a pity,'' he tweeted.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan had also reacted to the controversial matter on Twitter, writing, "What is happening in Karnataka is provoking unrest. A religious poison wall is being erected among the students who are not lying. What is happening in the neighbouring state beyond the single wall should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful."<br />
<br />
A number of celebrities, including Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker have shared their views on the hijab row.<br />
<br />
For the unversed, the Hijab row began in January at a government PU College in Udupi, Karnataka, where six students who attended classes wearing headscarves were asked to leave the campus.&nbsp;</p>


The ongoing Karnataka hijab controversy continues to draw reactions from Bollywood celebrities. On Thursday, Kangana Ranaut shared her thoughts on the matter. Taking to her Instagram stories, the actress shared a post reading, "Iran.

The ongoing Karnataka hijab controversy continues to draw reactions from Bollywood celebrities. On Thursday, Kangana Ranaut shared her thoughts on the matter. Taking to her Instagram stories, the actress shared a post reading, "Iran. 1973 and now. From Bikini to Burqa in fifty years flat. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The first half of the picture shows a group of girls sitting in a bikini, while the other half of the picture shows women wearing burqas. Also read: Remember Burkini? The other controversial outfit before Hijab row I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of “MANLINESS” . What a pity — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 10, 2022 × Sharing the post, Kangana wrote, “If you want to show courage, show it by not wearing burqua in Afghanistan… Learn to break free, not cage yourself.” She was reacting to a tweet about how things had changed in Iran after the revolution, particularly for women. Now, slamming Ranaut's comment, veteran actress Shabana Azmi wrote in a tweet, “Correct me if Im wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic ?!!” Also read: Explainer: Hijab, Niqab, Burqa, the different Islamic clothing for women Correct me if Im wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic ?!! pic.twitter.com/0bVUxK9Uq7 — Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) February 11, 2022 × Earlier, Bollywood veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, in a series of tweets reacted to the hijab row, saying that he has, and remains, against ‘burqa and hijab’, but has ‘nothing but deep contempt for the ‘mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully’. ''I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time, I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of 'MANLINESS'. What a pity,'' he tweeted. Veteran actor Kamal Haasan had also reacted to the controversial matter on Twitter, writing, "What is happening in Karnataka is provoking unrest. A religious poison wall is being erected among the students who are not lying. What is happening in the neighbouring state beyond the single wall should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful." A number of celebrities, including Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker have shared their views on the hijab row. For the unversed, the Hijab row began in January at a government PU College in Udupi, Karnataka, where six students who attended classes wearing headscarves were asked to leave the campus.

Shabana Azmi reacts to Kangana Ranaut's comment on hijab row

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