Kerala Church School Denies Entry to Student in Hijab: Controversy Erupts Over Dress Code Policy

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Thiruvananthapuram:

A church-operated school in Kerala's Ernakulam district has found itself embroiled in controversy after refusing entry to a Class 8 student wearing a hijab last week. Officials at St Rita's Public School in Palluruthy reportedly stated that the hijab violated their 'dress code' and instructed the girl to remove it.

"This school is not allowing me to wear a hijab. They made me stand at the entrance (of the classroom) and told me to remove it. Teachers were rude. I won't study here," the student expressed.

The school's action sparked a confrontation with the parents, eventually involving the Parent-Teacher Association as well. PTA President, Joshi Kaithavalappil, informed NDTV that a student wearing a hijab represented the beginning of a "planned attack on a Christian-managed educational institution".

The PTA president also alleged that the parents received support from the Social Democratic Party of India, a political organization perceived as pro-Islamic and connected to the formerly banned Popular Front of India.

"SDPI workers are behind it. Their party members came to enforce it... (and) they put more pressure on the school than the parents," Kaithavalappil told NDTV.

Amidst this escalating tension, the school - which explained in a letter to other parents that it acted to maintain uniform dress standards for all students - sought police protection from the Kerala High Court. The school also declared a two-day closure on October 13 and 14.

The dispute reportedly began on October 7 when the girl was first stopped while wearing her hijab. Three days later she was stopped again, but this time her angry father arrived with several associates, allegedly from the SDPI, and began verbally attacking school officials.

According to reports, the father claimed his daughter had worn a hijab - though not pinned traditionally, making it appear more like a shawl over her head - for four months without any issues.

However, in those reports, the school principal, Sister Helena, was quoted stating that all parents had been informed about the 'dress code' during admission, and that the girl 'followed the school's dress code for four months... but, one fine morning, she came in flouting the code'.

Meanwhile, adding a political dimension, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party criticized the SDPI for creating a 'ruckus' on school grounds. "This incident has damaged the secular fabric of our state. There is nothing wrong in a girl wearing a hijab," Shone George said.

"117 Muslim girls study here and they all abide by the uniform rules. But, in this instance, the school actually shut down because of fear of the SDPI... this is the behaviour of the Islamic state. This cannot be allowed," George stated.