4 November 2024
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The banning of the Hijab at Karnataka schools is fueling Islamophobia in India. Ayushi Devraj who entered the fold of Islam recently, weighs in on the matter.

To tell you a bit about myself, my name is Ayushi Devraj. I am a revert Muslim for several years now. Having taken the shahadah has undoubtedly been the best decision of my life. Before turning to Islam, I was an agnostic – I believed in God but never followed any particular religion. However, I was always drawn towards Islam, a feeling that I cannot put into words.

This was a journey I chose to take alone so it could just be between me and my Creator, Allah. Everything I know about Islam today is self-taught through the grace and guidance of Allah. I am extremely grateful for the support from my family and friends regarding my decision to become Muslim. Every revert Muslim’s fear is acceptance from their family, but when I told my dad, who is now late, that I want to be a Muslim he did not only accept it, in fact it was deeper than that. His exact words were ‘Ayushi, I am so proud of you’.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Due to that, and many other factors, it has also now become the religion that is most targeted. There has been an increase in the rise of Islamophobia not just in India but also France, and several other countries. Recently in India, both students and teachers have not been allowed into their educational institutes due to wearing the hijab. The right to freedom of religious expression as well as the right to education should be treated equally; no woman should have to choose between the two as they both are her fundamental human rights.

Even after a global outrage, I have come across several videos where students and teachers are forced to remove their hijab and abaya just so that they can enter their school or college. Their fundamental human rights are being abused and stripped away from them. This is what I would call ‘extremism’.

If it is deemed acceptable by the world to wear immodest clothes, why can’t modest clothing be acceptable for women as well? Why does it have to be only one or the other? I feel that the world, especially feminists are being selective in terms of what they support. Are they being quiet because we are Muslim, and because our choice of clothing is modest? Their silence on this matter is deafening. Women are mainly affected by this so I find it quite hypocritical that ‘women empowerment’ movements and ‘feminists’ aren’t acknowledging this. Because they believe we should be free from the Hijab as if it is a restriction imposed upon us.

By taking away our religious freedom to wear the hijab which you view as restrictive, is that not oppression? To choose what a woman can and cannot wear, is that not oppression? To prevent a woman from being educated based on her wearing a scarf, is that not oppression?

Or does the term ‘oppression’ only suit you when you feel Muslim women need saving from Muslim men who allegedly ‘force’ her to wear her hijab?

To this lot, I say: You are taking away our freedom by dictating to us what our freedom should look like. The hijab is my freedom and my form of women empowerment. In addition, just because that does not fit your mould of freedom and empowerment, you should not assume that it does not fit mine.

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Hindu women in India also cover their head with their sari but they aren’t being prevented from their right to religious expression, the same goes with Buddhists and their attire in India. The freedom of religious expression is only taken away, when it’s done in the form of wearing a hijab. This movement that has been taking place in India, I believe, is incredibly politically motivated as there has been an increase in hate crimes especially towards Muslims – from the time the Modi regime has been in power.

Muslims aren’t the only ones targeted, Christians are also being targeted – last year several churches were set alight. The BJP follows certain ideologies that contradict the Hindu beliefs of peace and tolerance. The BJP doesn’t represent Hinduism, just the same way Zionists in Israel do not represent Judaism.

Finally, the hijab is our choice. It is not a restriction, it is our freedom. It is not disempowering, it is empowering.

*Ayushi Devraj is a Media Advocate and works at South African Muslim Network (SAMNET).

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