A group of Kashmiri Muslim students at Sri Soubagaya College of Nursing in Bengaluru has accused the college administration of preventing them from offering their Friday prayers (Jummah prayers). The students claim that their repeated requests for permission to attend these prayers, which are fundamental to their faith, have been denied.
According to the students, this refusal violates their right to practice their religion under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. They expressed that being forced to miss the weekly prayers causes them significant distress and undermines their religious identity. “No student should have to abandon their religious beliefs to pursue education,” they asserted.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), spoke out against the situation, warning that such restrictions could set a harmful precedent in a democratic society. He emphasized that Karnataka, known for its cultural inclusivity, should safeguard the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly within educational institutions, which should be free from religious discrimination.
The students have urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene and ensure that religious practices are respected in colleges. They also appealed to Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah to raise the matter with the Karnataka government. Sri Soubagaya College of Nursing has yet to provide a response to the allegations.
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