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UK schools allowed to ban veils
LONDON, March 21(Daily Times): Britain on Tuesday gave school headteachers the right to
ban the Muslim veil or other religious clothing from classrooms, but the move
was immediately branded "shocking" by a Muslim leader.
A spokesman for
the Department for Education and Skills stressed that the new guidelines did not
mean that the government was imposing a blanket ban on religious clothing at
schools.
The guidelines require schools to consult with the local
community, including students' parents, before deciding on a uniform policy, and
note that, where possible, they should be tolerant of religious dress.
However, certain items of clothing, such as the full-face veil, or
niqab, may be banned if headteachers believe that they hamper safety, security
or learning, so long as a consultation is carried out. "Schools must act
reasonably in accommodating religious requirements, providing they do not pose a
threat to security, safety and learning, or compromise the well-being of the
whole school community," said the guidelines.
"Where individual requirements have an impact in any of these areas, schools are within their
rights to take appropriate action," the said, adding that they must consult
parents and the local community. Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic
Human Rights Commission, voiced dismay at the new rules.
"Successive
ministers dealing with education issues have failed to give proper guidance when
requested by human rights campaigners about schools' obligations regarding
religious dress," he said. "To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim
communities is simply shocking."
The new rules follow a high-profile
British court case in which the father of a 12-year-old Muslim girl was refused
permission last month to challenge a school's ban on her wearing the niqab
during lessons.
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