Mumbai, Sep 2026 : A controversy has erupted at Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital after two women alleged that they were stopped from entering the maternity ward because they were wearing burqas, triggering criticism from political leaders across party lines and calls for an inquiry into the incident.
The controversy came to light after advocate Jahanar alleged that she was prevented from entering the maternity ward while wearing a burqa. According to her, she identified herself and explained her purpose for visiting the hospital, but security personnel allegedly refused to let her proceed.
“Even after I spoke to them and introduced myself, I was still stopped and told, ‘No matter who you are, we will not allow you to enter in a burqa,’” she claimed. When she questioned the reason for the restriction, she alleged that she was told that babies could be stolen by people entering the hospital wearing burqas.
Another advocate, Zahra Shaikh, on Tuesday said that a similar incident had happened to her at the same hospital. She said she had visited Cooper Hospital in Andheri to meet a relative and was stopped outside the maternity ward by security personnel.
Shaikh said she was asked to remove her burqa before entering the ward. According to her, she showed her face to the security personnel and sought an explanation for the demand. She alleged that she was told the measure was necessary for security reasons, with personnel reportedly citing concerns about child kidnapping.
The allegations sparked strong reactions from political leaders, with several condemning any form of discrimination against women on the basis of their religious attire.
NCP-SP spokesperson Vidya Chavan criticised the alleged conduct and said women should not be questioned or harassed merely because they wear a burqa as part of their religious practice. She emphasised that the Constitution protects an individual’s right to practise their religion and cautioned against treating every woman wearing a burqa with suspicion.
“If their religion requires them to wear a burqa, no watchman or man has the right to question why they are wearing one,” Chavan said. She added that “not every woman wearing a burqa is an extremist” and called for an immediate inquiry and appropriate action against those responsible.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde also condemned the reported incident and assured that she would look into the matter. She described the episode as a matter of basic humanity and stressed that hospitals should not become places where individuals are judged on the basis of their religion.
Tawde noted that Cooper Hospital is run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and said that such an incident should not occur in any hospital. She added that strict action would be taken against any BMC employee found responsible following an investigation.
Congress leader Charan Singh Sapra termed the incident unfortunate, while AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also criticised the alleged treatment of the women.
Pathan accused those responsible of repeatedly targeting Muslim women over their choice to wear burqas and hijabs. He demanded strict action against the security personnel involved and said women should not be prevented from entering hospitals solely because of their attire.
At the same time, Pathan acknowledged the need for adequate security arrangements in hospitals and suggested that the BMC increase the number of CCTV cameras using its funds.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde offered a more nuanced view, saying that no one would intentionally want to commit such an act. He nevertheless maintained that people have the right to wear clothing of their choice irrespective of their religion, while also stressing that hospitals and municipal authorities must ensure appropriate security arrangements.
The controversy has consequently brought into focus the balance between hospital security protocols and individual religious freedom, with political leaders calling for a clear examination of the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident.
