Muslim student in India forced out of school over hijab ban
Authorities in southern India censure Catholic school for banning a Muslim student’s hijab, highlighting rising tension over faith and education rights
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A 13-year-old Muslim girl in southern India has been forced to leave her school after administrators barred her from wearing a hijab, a decision that has reignited debate over religious freedom and the growing marginalization of Muslims in India’s education system.
The incident took place at St. Rita’s School, a Catholic institution in the coastal state of Kerala — long considered one of India’s most religiously tolerant regions. The student’s father, PM Anas, said his daughter was left “mentally shattered” after being told she could not attend classes while wearing a headscarf. “She was fearful and anxious,” he told reporters. “We asked only for her right to practice her faith, but the school refused.”
According to Maktoob Media, Anas alleged that some staff members claimed his daughter’s attire “frightened other children,” while local political figures and community leaders pressured the family to withdraw their request. He said the controversy caused “unbearable emotional distress” for both him and his daughter.
Kerala’s General Education Minister publicly condemned the school, calling its refusal to accommodate the student “a serious lapse” and a violation of constitutional rights. “If the child is facing mental distress, the school will be held responsible,” he said, warning that private institutions are not above government oversight.
The minister also accused the school’s management of politicizing the issue and defying official directives intended to safeguard students’ rights.
A government inquiry later found that St. Rita’s rulebook contained no reference to a hijab ban. Despite this, the student has now been withdrawn from the school and enrolled elsewhere. Her father said the family made the decision to “protect her mental health and avoid further social tension.”
The school’s principal, Sister Helina Albin, rejected accusations of discrimination, claiming the institution was acting under court orders allowing schools to determine uniform codes. She said the school would challenge the education department’s directive in the Kerala High Court.
The case has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny of how religious attire is treated in India’s schools, following similar hijab bans in the southern state of Karnataka in 2022 that drew global condemnation.
Religious leaders, including Metropolitan Bishop Yuhanon Mar Milithios, questioned the school’s stance, asking, “If teachers can wear religious symbols like crosses or bindis, why not students?”
Kerala, often praised for its progressive social policies, now finds itself at the center of a debate over secularism and equality. For the family at the heart of the case, the issue is deeply personal. “People speak as if we did something wrong,” Anas said. “We only asked for what the Constitution guarantees — dignity and education for our daughter.”
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
