Humiliating DU Niqab Student Insults Entire Muslim Community: Maulana Jalaluddin
Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, has expressed deep concern and strongly protested against allegations that a niqab-wearing female student was subjected to offensive remarks, labeled as a fundamentalist and a terrorist, and asked to sit in the back row due to her religious attire inside a classroom of the Department of English at Dhaka University.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, he said that humiliating a Muslim student for her religious attire is not only an assault on her personal dignity, but also an insult to the religious sentiments of the entire Muslim community. The Khelafat Majlis Secretary General stated that if niqab, hijab, or Islamic attire is mocked under the pretext of freedom of expression, it is no longer merely freedom of expression; rather, a clear Islamophobic mindset is at play behind it. Using a teacher’s responsible position to brand a student as a terrorist or a fundamentalist is a matter of utmost gravity.
He further stated that attempting to link Islamic attire with backwardness, fundamentalism, or terrorism in an effort to prove the superiority of so-called modernity is essentially a form of cultural fascism. This double standard, labeling Islamic clothing as terrorist while viewing immodesty as modern, cannot be the hallmark of a free intellect. Instead, such a mindset represents a dangerous tendency to restrict religious freedom in the name of personal liberty.
In the statement, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad demanded a fair and transparent investigation of the incident from the Dhaka University authorities. He stated that the investigation must be concluded promptly and exemplary action must be taken against the teacher or individual involved. Merely changing courses or taking temporary administrative measures is not sufficient. At the same time, he urged authorities to strictly ensure that the complainant student does not face any academic or administrative harassment while the investigation is underway.
He firmly asserted that no one has the right to disregard the religious beliefs, attire, and dignity of the Muslims of Bangladesh. Wearing a niqab or practicing Islam is not a crime, and one’s religious identity cannot be proof of any offense. The Dhaka University authorities must prove that there is no room for Islamophobia, cultural discrimination, or fascist mentalities here.
