Muslim teachers' suspension meant to create maximum polarization in Rajasthan: CASR

Counterview Desk

The civil rights network*, Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), opposing what it called "arbitrary suspension" of three Muslim teachers from a higher secondary school in Rajasthan, has said that the school management acted on allegations by a local Hindutva organization, Sarv Hindu Samaj, which raised a furore regarding their presence in the village school. 

The allegations, said CASR, not only tarnished the reputation of these educators, but also sought to "perpetuate a climate of discrimination and prejudice within educational institutions, which is detrimental to the very essence of these institutions and what they strive to be." 

"It is important to note that students of the school organized a gathering in front of the Sub-Division Magistrate’s office against the suspension of their teachers", it added in a statement.

Text:

It is beyond problematic that Firoz Khan, Mirza Mujahid and Shabana, teachers at Higher Senior Secondary School Khajuri, Rajasthan, were suspended from their jobs on 21st February 2024 under the allegations of being involved in “Islamic Jihadist activities,” “religious conversions” and “love jihad.” The school acted on allegations pursued by local brahmanical Hindutva fascist organization Sarv Hindu Samaj which raised a furore regarding the presence of Muslim teachers in the village school. 

Such allegations, apart from tarnishing the reputation of these educators, perpetuate a climate of discrimination and prejudice within educational institutions, which is detrimental to the very essence of these institutions and what they strive to be. It is important to note that students of the school organized a gathering in front of the Sub-Division Magistrate’s office against the suspension of their teachers by walking  from their village to Sangod SDM  office on 26th February. 

They have firmly stated that the allegations against their teachers are unfounded, that their educators aspired for communal harmony and that it was the elements of RSS and its local proxy Sarv Hindu Samaj who had been trying to foster communal hatred against oppressed minorities like Muslims in their school from the outside. 

The school-going students even handed a letter of memorandum to the Tehsildar and SDM stating their points and demanding the dismissal of such allegations against their teachers as well as their reinstatement.

We echo the sentiments of the students who have protested against the suspension, some of whom were forced to give false testimonies against the suspended teachers.

The BJP-RSS combine has tried its hardest to harvest the results of the brahmanical Hindutva fascist violence it has laid the seeds for all across India in their goal to establish a “New India,” their “Vision 2047,” a Hindu rashtra itself. 

The teachers were suspended under the allegations of being involved in Islamic Jihadist activities, religious conversions and love jihad

In such a bid, it will target all oppressed minorities, including religious minorities, oppressed nationalities, peasants and workers and is bound to threaten their very existences via genocidal measures, be it the “shoot on sight” orders and subsequent murders of Muslims in Haldwani at the hands of the police, the killing of a 6 month old Adivasi in Bastar, the handing of guns to Hindutva militias in Manipur and the subsequent mass rapes of women conducted by them, the torture of youth in Kashmir at the hands of the Indian army, the incarceration of political prisoners in the anti-CAA/NRC protests or under the dozens of “Maoist links” cases or even situations such as the loss of employment of Dalit academics, or the targeting of Muslim teachers in their sphere of employment. Brahmanical Hindutva fascism seeks to create maximum polarization for the sake of serving its corporate interests.

We call for an immediate reinstatement of Firoz Khan, Mirza Mujahid, and Shabana, who’s suspension rests on no rational grounds, and is thoroughly suggestive of ulterior motives. 

Furthermore, we urge the authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations against Firoz Khan, Mirza Mujahid, and Shabana. Any disciplinary action should be based on concrete evidence rather than unsubstantiated claims.

We call for the protection of academic freedom and a learning environment free from discrimination and intimidation. Educational institutions should be spaces where diversity is celebrated and respected, not grounds for targeting individuals based on their religious identity.

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*AIRSO, AISA, AISF, APCR, BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM, CRPP, CTF, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity, IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, Progressive Lawyers Association, Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, NAPM, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Smajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Manch, SFI, United Against Hate, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S