10 July 2013

Supreme Court upholds ban on Muslim headwear in schools

A branch of Russia’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a group of Muslims for the right of schoolgirls to wear traditional religious attire, specifically the hijab, in classrooms.

The appeal was made by a group of citizens of Muslim faith from southern Russia’s Stavropol Region.

They complained that a decree by the local administration ordering all schoolchildren to appear in classes only in regular secular clothes, which came into force in January this year, infringes their freedom of faith as guaranteed by the constitution.

Certain denominations of Islam requires that all women wear special headscarves called hijabs, covering their hair and necks. [TV-Novosti] Read more