Indian court upholds ban on hijab, says it is ‘not an essential religious practice’

In a serious blow to the Muslims’ fight to practice their religion freely, an Indian court Tuesday upheld the ban on the hijab, stating that it is not an essential religious practice in Islam.

The Karnataka High Court, announcing the verdict on five petitions that had challenged the ban, ruled that the hijab is not an essential religious practice, according to NDTV.

"Prescription of uniform is a reasonable restriction on fundamental rights," the court said.

The local government had banned large gatherings for a week in state capital Bengaluru "to maintain public peace and order".

The high court had temporarily banned religious clothes, including hijab and saffron scarves, last month after a wave of anti-Muslim protests across the state.

During the proceedings, the petitioners told the court that wearing the hijab was a fundamental right guaranteed under India's constitution and essential practice of Islam.

The court had reserved its judgment on February 25 after hearing the petitions for 11 days.

The controversy over hijab erupted in Karnataka last year when students at schools in Udupi were stopped from entering class wearing headscarves.

The local governments across India had sided with the moves to ban the religious practice, emboldening Hindu extremists who are now openly challenging Muslim girls wearing hijab.

Videos of students and teachers removing the hijab in public to be allowed inside educational institutions had triggered a massive outcry.