Schools and colleges in India’s southern Karnataka state have been ordered to close until Friday, as tensions escalated
over the banning of religious headscarves in class.

Local police have banned gatherings and protests near educational institutions.

The High Court in Karnataka deferred a ruling on a petition by five Muslim women questioning the headscarves restriction.

The court said it must be heard by a higher court as it’s a constitutional matter.

Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds at demonstrations held on Tuesday.

Many schools have been preventing girls wearing headscarves from attending classes.

Aljazeera.