Activist Removes Headscarf Over Kerala Leader's Remark: 5 Things To Know

Social activist and writer VP Zuhara removed her headscarf on October 8 publicly on a stage as a protest against a controversial remark allegedly made by Samastha Kerala Jamyathul Ulama leader Mukkam Umar Faizi.

Faizi recently made an alleged comment on senior Communist Party of India Marxist leader K. Anil Kumar’s statement about the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women in Kerala. The Samastha leader allegedly stated that women who did not wear hijab were of questionable character.

Writer Removes Headscarf Over Samastha Leader's Remark

1. VP Zuhara was addressing the inaugural session of the Kudumbashree’s “Thirike Schoolil” (back to school) campaign at Mallalam in the city on Sunday when she lashed out at Faizi’s comment. She stated that it was a woman’s personal choice to cover her head or not.
2. Elaborating further, she said that she grew up wearing a headscarf, and it has become a part of her habit. She said she wears it out of habit and not because she is a Muslim. While criticising Faizi’s statement, Zuhara removed the “pallu” of her saree from her head.
3. As she addressed the alleged statement by removing her headscarf, a few members of the event, including some office-bearers of the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school, staged a protest. Thereafter, Zuhara left the venue.
4. Later, the writer and social activist approached the police station and filed a complaint, stating that the PTA officers had hurdled abuses at her. The Nallalam Police said they have registered the complaint and will take further action.
5. Leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) K. Anil Kumar made a controversial remark on October 3, which received severe backlash from religious outfits and scholars. He said that the party has influenced Muslim girls in Kerala’s Malappuram district to give up wearing the hijab. Responding to the backlash, the CPI M party, through its secretary, MV Govindan, rejected the claims and clarified that the inappropriate remarks did not reflect the views of the party.
   

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