A Kerala based educationist who barred female students of his group’s institutions from wearing face veils is now facing death threats for his progressive decision. Dr PA Fazal Gafoor, president of the Muslim Education Society (MES) has now approached the police and filed a complaint against an unknown caller who allegedly demanded the withdrawal of a circular that informed female students not to attend class wearing face covering attire.
Image Courtesy: The Hindu
The caller reportedly used threatening and demeaning words and warned Gafoor dire consequences if he did not withdraw the circular that was issued on Friday.
Explaining the rationale behind the circular, Dr Gafoor had told Indian Express, “Women covering their faces is not Islamic. It is a new culture brought from abroad and has little to do with religion. The practice of covering the face is a cultural invasion. Now, it has become widespread in Kerala.”
The move had attracted criticism from the Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema, a religious organisation of Sunni Muslim scholars and clerics.
Meanwhile, Dr Gafoor clarified that the decision had originally been made and communicated via a circular dated April 17 and had nothing to do with a similar ban on face veils in Sri Lanka in wake of the recent anti-Christian terror attack there.