In my 1500 word piece, I comment on the Karnataka hijab row by comparing similar bans in Turkey and France. The rise in hijabophobia only reiterates the intersection between religion and gender when it comes to discrimination. Women face layers of discrimination and the struggle continues. Emancipation can come in many forms. If a woman chooses what parts of her body she would want to be visible, I cannot imagine a greater empowerment than this! Moreover, neutrality cannot be mandated when the cultural history of a nation boasts of its diversity with pride. Alarming situations like these call for us to refresh our understanding of secularism and rights.