A group of community organisations and concerned individuals from the British Indian diaspora have collectively written an open letter regarding religious freedom in India to the prime ministers of both countries (UK and India).
In the letter addressed to Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi, the co-authors said: “We write to you today as members and representatives of Indian diaspora civil society organisations and, most importantly as British Indians, to express our deep concern at the recent tensions in India over the rights of Muslim girls to wear a hijab within educational establishments.
“A few days ago, Karnataka’s Chief Minister made the decision to close schools and colleges following an escalation of the issue with reports of violence on some college campuses. This was followed by an Indian court ordering students in Karnataka to stop wearing religious garments in class until it makes a final ruling on whether schools can ban Muslim headscarves. This issue does not relate simply to one religion or one part of India.”
The letter further mentions the importance of Article 25 and Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
The letter has been signed by Bridge India, British South Indians, City Sikhs Foundation, Indian Workers’ Association GB, Cllr Rehana Ameer, Entrepreneur; Councillor, City of London Corporation, Yousuf Bhailok, Entrepreneur, community activist and philanthropist; Founder member and Former Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain, Priyajit Debsakar, Author and geopolitical analyst, Umar Farooqui, Lawyer; Spokesperson, Maharashtra State Nationalist Congress Party, Ram Gidoomal CBE, Chairman, South Asian Development Partnership, Gopal D. Patel, Co-Founder and Director, Bhumi Global; Co-chair, UN Multi-faith Advisory Council and Mandy Sanghera, an International human rights activist.
Dr Sarfraz Ashraf, Board Advisor of Bridge India, said “It is sad that in a democratic and secular country, girls are being harassed based on what they are wearing. This will have an adverse effect on women’s education, empowerment and overall development of the country. Institutions across India should seek at all times to be consistent with India’s constitutional values, which assure its citizens' justice, equality and liberty.”
Param Singh MBE, Vice Chair of City Sikhs, said “When Indian Punjabis started moving to the UK in large numbers in the 1960s and 70s many of the men wearing turbans were unable to get jobs within the public and private sector due to dress code policies which did not recognise religious head covering or keeping a beard. Following a number of legal interventions in 1982 Britain’s highest court, the House of Lords ruled that Sikhs were entitled to protection under the Race Relations Act which effectively gave them the right to wear beards and turbans in all walks of life.”
