Mumbai, September 20: A Burqa-clad woman allegedly denied entry into Central Mumbai’s premier civic healthcare institution, the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Parel, found mention in the Indian Mujahideen’s email in which the group claimed responsibility for the attack on two foreign tourists in Delhi.
The incident was reported by an afternoon tabloid in Mumbai, the report accompanied by a photograph of 47-year-old Tanveer Fatima, who was allegedly denied entry after she refused to take off her hijab.
On the night of September 14, according to the report, Fatima was denied entry along with her relatives after she refused to lift her veil while passing through the security check. She had reportedly come to the hospital along with an ailing uncle who was referred to KEM hospital from Lilavati Hospital in Bandra where he was being treated earlier. The report does not mention whether her uncle was admitted.
“We have to check each and every person who enters the hospital,” said Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM Hospital. “There have been cases of infants being stolen from government hospitals in the past and so we are very cautious ever since.”
According to the report, while Fatima’s relatives entered the building, she chose to remain outside as she did not want to reveal her hair. “Others who had accompanied her went in without any trouble. But when Fatima refused to show her face while passing the security check, we had to stop her at the enterance,” said Dr P B Bhosale, Deputy Dean of KEM Hospital.
The email sent by IM reads: “The incident of our sister wearing hijab who was insulted and humiliated at the KEM hospital in Bombay on orders of Bombay Police will not be forgotten….”
The email also mentions ATS chief Rakesh Maria, stating that he arrested persons not involved in the Pune German Bakery blast case. When contacted, Maria said he had no comments on the matter.
-Agencies