Asaduddin Owaisi disagrees with Karnataka HC on hijab judgement

Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi disagreed with the Karnataka High Court which ruled that hijab was not an essential practice of Islam and stated that it has suspended fundamental rights to freedom of religion, culture, freedom of speech and expression. In a series of tweets on the micro-blogging site twitter Asaduddin […]

Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi disagreed with the Karnataka High Court which ruled that hijab was not an essential practice of Islam and stated that it has suspended fundamental rights to freedom of religion, culture, freedom of speech and expression.

In a series of tweets on the micro-blogging site twitter Asaduddin said, “I disagree with Karnataka High Court’s judgment on hijab. It’s my right to disagree with the judgment and I hope that petitioner’s appeal before SC.”

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He pointed out that banning headscarf definitely harmed devout Muslim women and their families as it prevented them for accessing education. “I also hope that not only All India Muslim Personal Law Board but also organizations of other religious groups appeal this judgment as it has suspended fundamental rights to freedom of religion, culture, freedom of speech and expression.”

He questioned how would the excuse that a ‘uniform will ensure uniformity’ would stand. “The excuse being used is that uniform will ensure uniformity. How? Will kids not know who’s from a rich/poor family? Do caste names not denote background?”

Asaduddin Owaisi said that if it is a person’s belief and faith that covering one’s head is an essential religious practice, then one has a right to express it. “For a devout Muslim, Hijab is also an act of worship,” he said.

He further wrote that “Preamble to the Constitution says that one has liberty of thought, expression, belief faith, and worship. If it is my belief and faith that covering my head is essential then I has a right to express it as I deem fit. For a devout Muslim, Hijab is also an act of worship.”

He opined that even other people of the same religion have no right to decide essentiality. “It is between the individual and God. State should be allowed to interfere in religious rights only if such acts of worship harm others. Headscarf does not harm anyone.”

Asaduddin further stated that the time has come for it to be reviewed. “For a devout person, everything is essential and for an atheist nothing is essential. For a devout Hindu Brahmin, janeu is essential but for a non-Brahmin it may not be. It is absurd that judges can decide essentiality,” he tweeted.

He added that for Muslims it’s Allah’s command to be educated while also following his strictures (salah, hijab, roza, etc). “Now government is forcing girls to choose. So far judiciary has declared masjids, keeping a beard and now hijab as non-essential. What is left of free expression of beliefs?”