Islamic Centre of India Chairman, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, criticized Bihar jewellery shop owners for barring customers with covered faces, including hijabs and masks, stating that such a move goes against the country’s laws.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed emphasized that the hijab is a religious practice for Muslim women and that everyone has the right to practice their religion as guaranteed by the constitution.
He pointed out that covering the head or face is not limited to Muslim women, citing examples of similar customs followed by non-Muslim women in the country.
Regarding the use of masks, Maulana Khalid Rasheed highlighted that many people wear masks for health reasons due to rising pollution levels, and restricting entry based on this is unjustified.
The All India Jewellers and Gold Federation announced a new rule in Bihar, disallowing entry to customers with covered faces, making it mandatory for buyers to show their faces for identification before entering jewellery showrooms.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed also commented on the recent demolition near the Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area, condemning the incident and urging for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
