Muslim teacher in Varanasi faces hijab ban, religious bias at school
Varanasi : A Muslim teacher in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi has alleged religious discrimination at a private school after being asked to remove her hijab or quit, sparking debate on workplace rights and equality.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Samreen Bano shared videos on social media claiming Buddha Public School management told her to remove her hijab while teaching or leave the job. She said no such condition was mentioned during her interview, but objections were raised by the principal on her first working day.
In earlier videos, Samreen alleged she repeatedly faced hiring bias. “People call me for tuition or interviews, but when they find out I am Muslim, they refuse,” she said, adding that prejudice against Muslim teachers had become so common that “children are made to fear Muslim teachers before even knowing them.” She asserted that Muslim teachers participate in school prayers without objection and never ask students to change religion.
“If others can follow their religious practices, why should my hijab become a problem?” she asked, citing constitutional rights under Articles 19 and 25.
A clip circulating online purportedly shows a school official telling her she could leave if she disagreed with school policy, after she compared her hijab to sindoor and mangalsutra worn by other teachers.
No detailed public statement from the school management had been issued at the time of reporting.
The incident has triggered wider discussion on religious freedom, dress codes in schools, and treatment of minorities at workplaces. A retired academic said, “Educational institutions must remain spaces where professional ability matters more than religious identity.”
