We are living peacefully in India, 'Hijab girl' Muskan's father to Al-Qaeda

Mandya: Father of Muskan Khan, who made headlines during the hijab controversy, said that he does not know who Ayman Al-Zawahiri and his family are living peacefully in India.

"We do not know anything about the video. We don't know who he is. I have seen him for the first time. He said something in Arabic. They are dragging her (Muskan) name needlessly. My family is living peacefully in India," Mohammad Hussain told reporters here.

"Why are they (People like Zawahiri) making such statements and putting us in trouble here. We don't have any relationship with them," he added.

Al-Zawahiri, who is rummoured to be dead, is seen in a video praising Muskan for standing up for wearing hijab in educational institutions. Al-Zawahiri also lauded her for shouting 'Allah-Hu-Akbar' when she was heckled by a group of boys wearing saffron scarfs to counter their Jai Shree Ram slogans.

The video was released by Qaida's official Shabab media and verified by the US-based SITE intelligence group.

Asked about Muskan's reaction to Al-Qaeda's video, Hussain said, "What will she say sir? She is interested in studying. She does not have any interest in these things."

He also agreed upon the police initiating an investigation into the video posted by Al-Qaeda. "I don't have any objection to it," he said.

This year, Muskan has not appeared for examination, but would appear next year by enrolling her into an institution where hijab-wearing in classrooms are allowed, Hussain said.

Reacting to the video message, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said it proves involvement of "unseen hands" behind the hijab row.

Appearing in a 9-minute long video, Al-Zawahiri is seen denouncing the "enemies of Islam" after several educational institutions in Karnataka restricted Muslim girl students from wearing hijab.

Launching a tirade on Indian democracy, Al-Zawahiri accused "the pagan Hindu democracy of India" wanting to "oppress Muslims" in the country. He further called Islamic countries Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh as "enemies of Islam" for their hijab policies.

The hijab row made international headlines in January when a government-run pre-university school in Udupi district barred Muslim students wearing hijabs from entering classrooms during teaching hours.

Following this, six girl students went on protest asking the management to allow them to wear hijab during teaching hours in the classroom. This escalated tensions in the state triggering counter-protests by Hindu students.

The Karnataka High Court, after hearing the matter for 11 days, upheld the ban on hijab inside classrooms during teaching hours. Following which, the Muslim students moved the Supreme Court against the order.

The students also filed a Special Leave Petition in the apex court challenging the High Court order terming it “unconstitutional” and said that they will continue to fight legally till they get justice. (UNI)