Indian court upholds school and college hijab ban

STORY: A High Court ruling in India’s Karnataka state has upheld a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in schools and colleges.

The verdict comes a month after the ban was first imposed and follows weeks of protests by students, parents and the religious community.

The court ruled the hijab is not part of “essential” religious practice in the Islamic faith and Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi stated that “institutional discipline prevails over individual choice."

The students who challenged the decision in court argued the hijab is a fundamental right guaranteed under India's constitution and an essential practice of Islam.

In light of the verdict, a third year female student said she was considering dropping out of her classes.

Court case critics argue the decision is a way of marginalizing a community that accounts for 13% of Hindu-majority India's 1.35 billion people.

The Students Islamic Organization of India said they fear the ruling could set a precedent for the rest of the country.

They suggested they would appeal and approach the Supreme Court.

Ahead of the verdict, authorities closed some educational institutions and restricted large gatherings parts of the state to prevent potential trouble.

Karnataka ministers also told reporters that Muslim female students who are staying away from class in protest should respect the judgment and go back to school.

Some also fear the verdict could play a role in next year’s state assembly elections.

Karnataka is the only southern state ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some believe the BJP could benefit from the division between Hindus and Muslims.

The party says the hijab ban had nothing to do with their political ambitions.