Egypt’s Ministry of Education has issued a new decree that prohibits students from wearing the niqab, a full-face veil, in public and private schools. The decree also states that the headscarf, which covers the hair, is optional and depends on the student’s choice without any pressure. The decision, which was published on Monday by the state-owned newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, has sparked a heated debate on social media platforms in Egypt, the most populous Arab country with a predominantly Muslim population.
While many Egyptian women wear the headscarf, the niqab is less common and often associated with conservative interpretations of Islam. Supporters of the niqab ban argue that it is a sign of extremism and a hindrance to education and social integration. Critics of the ban accuse the government of violating personal freedoms and imposing a secular agenda.
The controversy comes amid a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that was ousted from power by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2013. The Brotherhood has been designated as a terrorist organization, and thousands of its members and leaders have been killed or imprisoned. The niqab ban is not the first of its kind in Egypt. In 2015, Cairo University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the country, banned its female professors from wearing the niqab. The ban was upheld by a court in 2020.
The Ministry of Education has not given any official explanation for the niqab ban in schools, but some observers suggest that it is part of a broader effort to reform the education system and promote a moderate version of Islam. The ministry has also introduced new curricula that include subjects such as human rights, citizenship, and critical thinking.
The niqab ban in schools may face legal challenges from some civil society groups and human rights organizations that advocate for religious freedom and diversity. However, some experts believe that the ban will not have a significant impact on the majority of Egyptian students who do not wear the niqab.
Source : [The National]
