Aroosa Parvaiz, a Kashmiri student who topped in class 12 examination of Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education has become the victim of trolls for wearing hijab despite being a Muslim. The broad result was announced on February 8. 2022, where she qualified as a topper scoring 99.8% that is 499 out of 500 marks.
Soon after the announcement of her results, she was interviewed by journalists who published her photos and videos for being a topper. The photos of her not wearing a hijab surfaced on social media, which made her the target of dirty politics by the Islamists. They started targeting and abusing her, so much so, that some even gave her threats of rape and death. While teaching her lessons of Islam, these Islamists have quoted the struggle of their fellow sisters for their hijab in Karnataka.
Taking to Kashmir Observer, Aroosa said, “These comments don’t matter to me but they’ve taken a toll on my parents. Wearing or not wearing Hijab doesn’t define one’s belief in their religion. Maybe, I love Allah more than they (abusers) do. I’m a Muslim by heart not by hijab.”
As the news was shared on various social media platforms, the comment section stormed with Islamists criticising and threatening her. Here are some of the screengrabs of the comments:
On the other hand, Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi taking to Twitter said that Aroosa Parvaiz is the face of courage.
This is the face of courage !
“Don’t need to wear Hijab to prove myself a good Muslim”, says Class 12 topper from Kashmir Aroosa Parvaiz. pic.twitter.com/wWsaU4gTZV
— C T Ravi ?? ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) February 12, 2022
In Karnataka, the hijab row has emerged as a social faultline where several polarising views are coming forth by politicians and experts. In its interim order, Karnataka High Court has asked the students not to wear any religious clothing be it hijab or saffron shawl as long as the court is hearing the matter. Besides, the government has kept the educational institutes shut till the time being to avoid unrest. The camp supporting the hijab rights is basing their argument on the rights guaranteed by the Constitution whereas the camp opposing it stating that religion should be kept out of school, especially when school has its uniform.
