INDIAN MUSLIM COLLEGE BANS INDECENT CLOTHES
Kerala, 13 Ramadhan 1436/30 June 2015 (MINA) – An Indian Muslim college has introduced fresh guidelines for the new academic year that bans tight jeans, short tops and leggings, in a decision that was hailed by the parents of the students for encouraging decency.
“Every year we ask students not to wear jeans and short tops,” Professor B Seethalakshmi, Principal of the Muslims college said, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“There are anyway very few here who wear such outfits. But since they don’t listen, we’ve brought in a dress code from this academic year.”
Under the new guidelines, students at the Muslim women college are required to wear salwar, churidar bottom, and an overcoat from July 8.
Students wearing Islamic attire like hijab, niqab and a dark grey mafta or head scarf will be allowed to enter the college which is run by the Muslim Educational Society (MES) at Nadakkavu in Kozhikode.
According to the principal, the decision came after some students attended the college while wearing tight jeans, short tops and leggings that are deemed indecent.
The Muslim college decision has sparked mixed reactions among women rights activists.
“We must remember the cultural context. There was a time when women could not walk with their faces uncovered here,” said Sandhya SN, an activist.
“This order must be seen in context of evolving. And eventually, as people become more accepting, these orders will be rendered obsolete.”
On her part, advocate Renjitha from women’s organization Sakhi said, “This is unacceptable. Uniforms are ok. They are for everybody. But a dress code, where select stuff can be worn and other choices are looked down upon is degenerative.”
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.
A Muslim woman is obliged to wear hijab as soon as she reaches puberty and Muslim parents should encourage their daughters to wear it.
Forcing girls under the age of wearing hijab is against the Islamic teachings.
Last August, management of several schools run by non-Muslims in India’s southern tropical state of Kerala issued a decision allowing hijab from Class I, following several demands by Muslim parents.
Muslims account for 160 million of India’s 1.1 billion people, the world’s third-largest Muslim population after those of Indonesia and Pakistan. (T/P006/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
