An international school in Jeddah, which has boys and girls of varying nationalities on its rolls, has banned an Egyptian Muslim girl for wearing a head scarf. The girl, Lujain, was banned from Jeddah Prep and Grammar School and was forced to look for another in order to continue her studies.
She said that other girls wearing head scarves are forced to remove them every morning before entering the school. Tarek Mohammed Muneer, Lujain?s father was surprised when director of the school denied his daughter entry to school this Ramadan."When I asked him the reason, he told me that the school is not religious and that the head scarf is a religious symbol."
"When I argued that this is unacceptable in a Muslim country, especially if there are a large number of Muslim girls in school, he said he would refer the matter to the school board for a final ruling." The matter, however, remains unresolved till present.
When contacted, the school administrative secretary said the school policy is a total ban on head scarves. She added, "Any girl wearing a head scarf will NOT be allowed to enter school."
Muneer, the father, said he managed
to get admission for Lujain at Jeddah Continental School, which does not
impose ban on scarves.