Dar condemns Bihar CM for forcibly removing Muslim woman's hijab
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Photo: SCREENGRAB
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned the incident in which Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down the hijab of a Muslim woman Nusrat Parveen at a government event, calling it 'extremely disturbing'.
In a post on X, Dar described the incident as shameful, saying it highlighted the urgent need to safeguard minority rights and curb the rising tide of Islamophobia.
The shameful incident involving the disrespect of a Muslim woman in Bihar is reprehensible and extremely disturbing.
Such acts underscore the imperative to safeguard minority rights and to address the troubling rise of Islamophobia. Respect for women and religious beliefs must… https://t.co/19NbkYordo“Respect for women and religious beliefs must remain fundamental and non-negotiable principles in every society,” he added.
Amnesty International India also condemned the incident, describing it as an attack on the woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity. Chair of the Board at Amnesty International India, Aakar Patel said the act was 'an assault on this woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity'. He said that when a public official forcibly pulls down a woman’s hijab, it sends a message to the public that such behaviour is 'acceptable'.
Patel added, “No one has the right to disrespect a woman in any way including pulling the hijab or clothes. Such actions deepen fear, normalise discrimination, and erode the very foundations of equality and freedom of religion. This violation demands unequivocal condemnation and accountability.”
Read: Fury as Bihar CM forcibly removes Muslim woman's niqab
The incident occurred on Monday when Kumar was distributing certificates to medical professionals at a government function in Patna. As AYUSH doctor Nusrat Parveen stepped onto the stage to receive her certificate, Kumar gestured towards her headscarf and abruptly pulled it down, exposing her mouth and chin before she could react.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to intervene, while Health Minister Mangal Pandey and the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary, Deepak Kumar, were seen laughing in the footage. The sudden gesture visibly unsettled Parveen.
The episode quickly drew widespread outrage in both India and Pakistan, prompting criticism on social media, by activists, and public commentators. Calls have emerged for an apology and the resignation of the 74-year-old chief minister, with many arguing the incident reflects a broader pattern of disrespect towards Muslims in India.
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The Human Rights Council of Pakistan also condemned the 'highly shameful, reprehensible, and inhumane action' of Kumar, urging the Indian government to conduct an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation.
“This incident is not merely an insult to an individual but an open attack on human dignity, religious freedom, women’s personal autonomy, and fundamental human rights, which is unacceptable in any civilised, democratic, and so-called secular state,” the council said in a statement posted on X.