KNZ NEWS DESK
New Delhi: Amidst the controversy over the wearing of the hijab in Karnataka colleges, a Jammu and Kashmir class 12 topper, Aroosa Parvaiz, has been trolled for not wearing a hijab, as photos of her without the headscarf went viral across social media. Some even called for violence, and threatened her with beheading for not wearing the hijab.
Parvaiz, who comes from the Ellahibagh area of Srinagar, was felicitated by the district administration for scoring 99.80 per cent (499 out of 500 marks) in the class 12 board examinations in the science stream.
“Wearing or not wearing Hijab doesn’t define one’s belief in their religion. Maybe, I love Allah more than they (trolls) do. I’m a Muslim by heart, not by a hijab,” the topper told local media.
Karnataka BJP leader C.T. Ravi lauded Parvaiz on Twitter, saying, “This is the face of courage !”.
ThePrint tried reaching Parvaiz through multiple phone calls, and text and WhatsApp messages, but received no response till this report was published.
A torrent of criticism
Screenshots of various comments criticising Parvaiz can be found on social media.
“Our sisters are fighting for hijab in Karnataka and we so-called Muslims in Kashmir are feeling proud not to have it,” one user wrote.
“…Muslims in Karnataka fighting for hijab on the other side Kashmir people don’t want and don’t care about it,” wrote another social media user.
“Bas 12 pass kiya hai aapne, koi kamaal nahi kiya he (You just passed 12, not done anything great) ,” read another post. Shame on your dress code. And also on your parents,” one said.
“Begairat… pardah nahi kiya…eski gardan kaat do (She is shameless, hasn’t covered herself. She should be beheaded),” a threatening post read.
“We Kashmiris feel ashamed when we see these girls our sisters in India are fighting for hijab but unfortunately we have the right to wear but we aren’t obeying that right,” another said.
“Indeed, she is failed, she doesn’t even know what is the modesty…Rip to her parents who doesn’t feel any shame on her bad hijab (sic),” another wrote.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka high court, in an interim order, asked students of the state not to wear “religious garments” in government colleges with a defined dress code till the matter is settled. It also directed classes to be commenced soon.
THE PRINT
