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Non-Muslim students at Islamic school forced to wear headscarves
Last updated at 22:00pm on 13th October 2006

"The hijab: Non-Muslim girls attending an Islamic school will have no choice but to wear headscarves"
Female students at a new Islamic school will be made to wear head scarves regardless of their religion, it was revealed yesterday. The Madani High School in Leicester will be required by law to accept 10 per cent of its 600 pupils from a non-Muslim background.
But girls who are not Muslim will still have to abide by a rule insisting all female pupils cover their heads as part of the uniform.

Assistant principal Zainab Elgaziari said he did not regard the demand as a problem - despite the ongoing row over Muslim women's veils.
He said: 'I can't see why if a student wears a head scarf it should be an issue. It's the same as a shirt or tie - it's just part of our uniform.
'We will welcome students of other faiths. Indeed, there will be a quota set down by the Government, and we will abide by these rules.
'When you go to any school you know what the uniform will be. Like any school, we will have one - and in our case it will include a head scarf.'
The secondary school, a voluntary-aided state academy, will replace the city's existing Islamic Academy when it opens next September.
Yesterday Leicester City Council said it did not believe the scarves would deter non-Muslim parents from sending children to the school.
Education spokesman Hussein Suleman, who is also a member of the school's temporary governing body, said: 'We have to find a balance.
'Governors have to take into account the fact that 10 per cent can be of a non-Muslim background and use discretion where appropriate.
'At the same time, parents have a right to send or not send their children to this school. I hope discretion will be used if there are any disagreements.'
The school, which is not expected to make boys cover their heads, was also backed by Suleman Nagdi, of the Federation of Muslim Organisations.
He said: 'All Islamic schools have certain criteria for school uniform. I can't see anything different about the criteria they are setting in this instance.'

Who gives a shit?

The state pays for the school.
What would the outcry be if kids were forced to wear crosses or Stars of David?
A secular state should be just that - SECULAR.

Eh..

Posted by DevilC The state pays for the school. What would the outcry be if kids were forced to wear crosses or Stars of David? A secular state should be just that - SECULAR.

But a headscarf isn't a specific religious symbol. it's just that they want their heads covered.

I don't think it's a tragedy or anything.

Posted by journeylady But a headscarf isn't a specific religious symbol. it's just that they want their heads covered. I don't think it's a tragedy or anything.

It sure is a specific religious symbol.
That scarf means a lot.
Again, what if a STATE FUNDED institute wanted you to wear a turban, a cross, or a star of David?
It is terribly hypocritical.

It would be hypocritical if it were happening in the United States. Isn't this elsewhere?

Posted by katwoman It would be hypocritical if it were happening in the United States.

How so?

Posted by DevilC The state pays for the school. What would the outcry be if kids were forced to wear crosses or Stars of David? A secular state should be just that - SECULAR.

Or what would happen if the Muslim girls were not permitted to wear their headscarves?

Do I detect hypocrisy?

that is fucked, i agree DevilC. Religious cultures shouldn't be forced upon.

Posted by vapula that is fucked, i agree DevilC. Religious cultures shouldn't be forced upon.

Hunh. Wouldn't that be nice?

Posted by vapula that is fucked, i agree DevilC. Religious cultures shouldn't be forced upon.

It's only wrong when Christians do it, silly.

Qwazy stuff. But, you don't have to go to the school, when that happens we should worry. And, the scarf isn't just about religion, it is about male dominion over the female body and it is bullshit. Call me, ladies!

The point here is that you do not have to go to this school. If the student or the parents of a none Muslim faith have an issue with the head scarf, then they can go to another school. End of story. It is not a secret it is a Muslim school. If you do not agree with it, then do not participate. If you wish to go to the Muslim school, then you will abide by that dress code. Just like if you go a Catholic School, Christian School, Secular School or any other place, you should out of respect and full knowledge respect those codes and conform. Nobody is forcing you to go.

What if I send my daughter to a Christian school, and they have a rule that she must wear something that covers her cleavage? Or her knees?

The horror...wait, why am I sending my kid to an Islamic school and expecting them not to follow Islamic conventions?

I went to a Christian school and I had to cover both my cleavage and my knees.

Posted by DevilC The state pays for the school. What would the outcry be if kids were forced to wear crosses or Stars of David? A secular state should be just that - SECULAR.

Headscarves are more of a cultural thing than a religious one. It's no different than having girls in a Catholic school wear skirts. I agree it's based in religion, but its not specifically religious.

Islam is a culture AND a religion.
Most Westerners can disassociate religious practice from day to day life.
Most Muslims cannot disassociate religious practice from day to day life.

Posted by splumer Headscarves are more of a cultural thing than a religious one. It's no different than having girls in a Catholic school wear skirts. I agree it's based in religion, but its not specifically religious.

Posted by DevilC Islam is a culture AND a religion. Most Westerners can disassociate religious practice from day to day life. Most Muslims cannot disassociate religious practice from day to day life.

I disagree, and think those are stereotypes. I think it depends on the degree of religiousness. I think the headscarf is no more a religious symbol than those plain dresses are to the Mormons or the coffee filter hair things are to the Mennonites. Muslims don't put headscarves on top of their mosques, and no one's forcing anyone to wear a crescent moon (though Muslims don't wear them at all, AFAIK).

It's just a school uniform is all.

Posted by splumer It's just a school uniform is all.

I have to call bullshit here.

From the Wiki entry for hijab...

The Koran instructs Muslims to dress in a modest way. The following verses are generally interpreted as applying to all Muslim men and women.

The surah 24:30-31 say:[6]
“ And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; [...] (Qur'an 24:31) ”

In the following verse, Muslim women are asked to draw their jilbab over them (when they go out), as a measure to distinguish themselves from others, so that they are not harassed. Whilst in sura 33:59 we read[6]
“ Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad) That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. [...] (Qur'an 33:58–59) ”

The following verses give special directives to the wives of Muhammad though some commentators believe that all women should imitate their example.
“ O Wives of the Prophet, ye are not like any of the (other) women. If ye do fear (Allah), be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speak that is just. Abide still in your homes and make not a dazzling display like that of the former times of ignorance: and establish regular prayer, and give regular charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye Members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.

[...] (Qur'an 33:32–33)
”

Another verse in the Koran (33:53) talks about the veil as being a separation of two men and spheres of life such as the public and the private, rather than between men and women. This could very well be the definitive verse on hijab as it has been quoted as such by a number of Islamic theologians.
“ O Ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission be granted you. But if ye are invited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not for conversation. Lo! That would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not for you to cause annoyance to the messenger of Allah, nor that ye should ever marry his wives after him. Lo! That in Allah's sight would be an enormity. (Qur'an 33:53)

(end of Wiki data.)

The rules regarding covering of parts of the body by followers is enforced as law in several countries, most notably Saudi Arabia where it is enforced by the religious police (whose long-ass name escapes me right now).

When France prohibited overt displays of religious paraphernalia one of the things it covered was the head scarf. And the argument made by followers was that it was clearly religious persecution, even though overt signs of other faiths were not exempted.

When wearing of headscarves has been restricted in the US it is always fought in the courts on religious grounds. This has included women trying to get drivers license photos in full face covering and arguing, when refused, that to remove their face coverings to the photographer would violate their religion since he is not a family member.

Sorry, but it is clearly a tenant of the faith to cover parts of the body in this case. This has been demonstrated by the followers of the faith when it has been restricted. Therefore the requirement would amount to a forced religious observance.