A young Muslim woman wearing a hijab in southern India’s Karnataka state courageously stood against threats and heckling by a Hindu extremist mob outside a college, as outraged Muslim students continue to protest against the ban on Islamic headgear in the educational institutes of India.
In a recent video posted on social media by the campaigners on Tuesday, the brave young lady named Muskan Khan is seen moving from the parking lot, after parking her motorbike, towards her college in the city of Mandya before she was bullied and threatened by a group of 40-50 members of a Hindu right-wing group chanting “Jai Sri Ram” (Hail Lord Ram).
Muskan reacts by raising her hand upright in the air and shouting back the slogans of “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Great).
While talking to a local TV channel, Ms. Khan said that she was not afraid of facing the extremist mob alone and would definitely fight for her right to wear the hijab.
“I have always worn the hijab in college,” she added while highlighting that the school never had issues with her getup and it’s “the outsiders” who have stimulated the controversy in the province under the rule of PM Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (or BJP).
Support for the Hijabi Girl grows over the Internet:
Immediately after the video was uploaded on the internet, Khan was labeled as “lioness”, “brave”, “courageous” and “hero” on social media.
“How brave these men are and how macho they must feel while targeting a lone young lady! Hatred for Muslims has been completely mainstreamed and normalized in India today,” said ex-chief minister of India-administered Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, while giving remarks on the video in a tweet.
“Objectification of women persists – for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalization of Muslim women.” said the Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai while highlighting that the hijab ban for students was “horrifying”.