Syria Bans Face Veils at Universities

Female students wearing a full face veil will be barred from Syrian university campuses, according to the country’s minister of higher education.  Ghiyath Barakat was reported to have said that the practice ran counter to the academic values and tradition of Syrian universities.  His ruling was said to be in response to requests from students and parents.  The BBC’s correspondent in Damascus says the ruling could be a sign that Syrian society is becoming more conservative, and that the decision could be seen as a step by the government to enforce its secular identity. 

In Egypt, in 2009, the then foremost Muslim cleric barred female students from wearing the full-face vile at the al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam’s centre of learning and scholarship.  He also upset other Muslim scholars by saying that French Muslims should obey any law that France might enact banning the veil. 

Source: BBC News, 19th July 2010