Hijab not intrinsic to Islam, says Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

Amid the row over wearing hijab in schools and other educational institutions in Karnataka, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday said that hijab is not intrinsic to the practice of Islam.

He alleged that vested interests were "using" protesting Muslim students and wanted to "push women back into the dark ages".

Speaking to India Today, Arif Mohammed Khan said, "The argument that Sikhs are allowed to wear turbans while Muslim women are being banned from wearing hijabs in some colleges and schools is preposterous. In Sikhism, the turban is considered and accepted as essential to the religion. On the other hand, hijab in the context of women’s dress finds no mention in the Quran.”

Watch the video for the full interview.