Kozhikode: Muslim Educational Society bans veil on campuses, sets off row

Kozhikode: A circular of Muslim Educational Society (MES) against female students of its institutions covering their faces has sparked controversy.

Samastha Kerala Jami-yyathul Ulama (SKJU) criticised its president, Dr P.A. Fazal Ghafoor, saying he need not interfere in religious matters.

The circular Dr Ghafoor signed says that the ban on face-covering dresses from the next academic year is in the wake of the December 4 Kerala High Court order. Two Muslim students had approached the HC saying that a Christian management school was not allowing their “dress code”.

The court rejected their plea saying the management also has their dress code, and if they cannot comply with it they can go and study elsewhere. “Dress code which is not acceptable to the public should not be accepted even in the name of religious custom or modernity,” the MES circular says.

“The Burqa or Niqab covering faces is a new trend. Around 99 per cent of women are not covering their face. So, MES does not need the consultation of religious bodies to ban Burqa in its colleges,” Dr Gafoor clarified.

SKJU president Sayyid Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal retorted saying that Niqab was prevalent among Muslims even before Salafism originated.

“Niqab has been in practice since the period of the Prophet. If other men see the face of a woman, she must wear it,” he said.

“Anyone can implement things they want in their institutions. We cannot prevent that. But Muslim girls will abide by our decision. We have talked to them.”

SKSSF (its students’ wing) state secretary Sathar Panthalloor said if any women want to study in MES colleges wearing a Burqa, they will.

“Dr Gafoor wants to create an ultra-secular image to appease somebody. But Burqa ban is not going to be implemented,” he warned.

At the same time, the SKSSF leader said that he was not underestimating the contributions of MES in the educational field.