Srinagar: Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and head of the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq strongly criticised the act of the Bihar Chief Minister pulling off the veil of a woman doctor. He described the incident as a serious violation of personal dignity and moral limits, stating that no office or position of power grants anyone the right to interfere with another person’s self-respect.
The Mirwaiz said that when a public figure violates someone’s dignity in full view of society, it conveys a disturbing impression that authority can overshadow ethics. He termed the fallout of the incident troubling, particularly the attempts by certain political groups and sections of the media to justify the act by framing it as an issue linked to women’s empowerment.
He said such arguments distort the incident and deliberately shift the discussion toward the hijab in a manner that misrepresents both context and intent. According to him, these diversions reflect a narrow and prejudiced understanding of Islam and the lived realities of Muslim women.
The Mirwaiz said that for women who observe hijab, it remains a matter of faith, identity, and personal choice. He stressed that hijab has never prevented women from excelling in academics, professional arenas, or broader social roles, noting that countless women across the world have achieved distinction while observing it. He argued that empowerment stems from equal opportunity and hard work, not from imposing judgments on personal attire.
He said that propriety demands that the Chief Minister of Bihar apologise to the concerned doctor and that those defending the act should refrain from attaching ideological labels or projecting the incident as a sign of misplaced progress. [KNT]
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