Woman Denied Entry to Cooper Hospital Maternity Ward Over Burqa, Alleges Lawyer

Advocate Jahanara Shaikh has alleged that she was barred from entering the maternity ward at Cooper Hospital in Mumbai because she was wearing a burqa.

According to Shaikh, the incident took place when she arrived at the hospital to visit a relative who had been admitted to the maternity facility.

Shaikh stated that an on-duty woman police officer stopped her at the ward's entrance. The policewoman allegedly informed her that women wearing a burqa would not be permitted inside and instructed her to remove the garment before being granted entry.

Shaikh said she questioned the officer about the justification for the restriction, noting that the officer's explanation left her shocked.