By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Probably for the first time in India’s north-eastern state Assam has witness this incident that a girl has been asked not to come to school wearing a hijab (a scarf which covers the head which is particularly worn by Muslim women). The incident took place at Kristo Jyoti School, Bokakhat in Golaghat district.
Fathima Beebi, a four year old Nursery student was served notice by the school authority to remove the hijab which she wears around her head or to stop from coming to school anymore.
Fathima Beebi a four year old Nursery student was served notice by the school authority to remove the hijab
Now, the parent of the student has knocked the door of court seeking justice to follow their tradition. The girl who was admitted in the school in the month of November in 2012 was asked by the school authority on March 21 this year not to wear the hijab. But when she disobeyed the authority, the principal Father Jose Vargsees served a notice to the parents on March 28 to remove the hijab within 15 days of time or not to come to school.
“We were shocked at the behaviour of the school authority. They have serious problem with my daughter wearing a piece of cloth around her head which is a tradition for ages. They were adamant with their say which is quite baseless. So, we have no other option left but to seek justice from the judicial system of the country,” an angry Shanamon AR, the father of Fathima Beebi, told Twocircles.net as he files a Writ Petition at Gauhati High Court.
Kristo Jyoti School, Bokakhat in Golaghat district
Shanamon who is posted in Nagaland in Assam Rifles originally hails from Kerala. However, her mother, Alee Ahmed is a local resident of Bokakhat area. The parents also alleged that they were even threatened by the school principal to follow his orders.
“I know that India is a secular country and every citizen has its right to follow its own tradition. I have not seen such type of thing anywhere in the country. I hope justice will be done to my daughter,” he added. Accordingly, advocate Jayanta Kumar Goswami has filed a Writ Petition on April 8.
However, the school authority is adamant with their stand of expelling the girl if she continues to wear the hijab. “Her dress code violates the norm of our school. We wanted that her parents send her to school respecting the rules and regulations of the school,” said principal Father Jose Varghese.