A high court in Karnataka upheld a government order that banned hijabs and headscarves in schools. The court claimed that wearing the hijab is not essential to practicing Islam and therefore is not protected under the constitution. Muslim girls have been forced to remove their hijabs to enter classrooms, and some students have instead decided to forego their exams. Protests in Karnataka and other states have emerged in support of protecting Muslim girls’ religious freedom and access to school.
Compiled from: Rhea Mogul and Swati Gupta, Indian court upholds hijab ban in Karnataka state that prompted weeks of religious clashes, Cable News Network (March 15 2022).