Muslim students banned from wearing veils at college

Published by Hummus on 11 September, 2013 - 18:28

Angry Muslim students have hit out at college chiefs after being banned from wearing religious veils for “security” reasons.

All students, staff and visitors to Birmingham Metropolitan College have been told to remove any face coverings so individuals are “easily identifiable at all times”. But the controversial ban of the niqab – a veil that leaves only a slot for the eyes – has sparked fury among some Muslim girls, who say they are being discriminated against.

The policy was revealed just days after politicians discussed banning the burka. Kettering MP Philip Hollobone – who refuses to see constituents who will not lift their veils – raised the issue in a Private Member’s Bill, saying it “goes against the basic part of the British way of life”.

News of the policy at the Birmingham college was broken to one prospective Muslim student at the start of the new term last week. The angry 17-year-old girl, who did not want to be named, said:

“It’s disgusting. It is a personal choice and I find it absolutely shocking that this has been brought in at a college in Birmingham city centre when the city is so multicultural and so many of the students are Muslim. It upsets me that we are being discriminated against. I don’t think my niqab prevents me from studying or communicating with anyone – I’ve never had any problems in the city before.”

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Submitted by You on 11 September, 2013 - 20:14

For those that like petitions:

My comments on twitter on this:

What "good" will it achieve other than curtail peoples freedoms?

Has it had masked vigilantes roaming the campus? Robberies? Bombings by masked individuals? What exactly is it preventing?

Because these things, reasonings need to be called out before they spread. kill the root of the weed before it spreads.

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"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

Submitted by You on 13 September, 2013 - 10:16

Birmingham Metropolitan College decides on U-turn over veil ban

A college which told pupils to remove facial coverings, including religious veils, for security reasons, has now changed its policy.

Birmingham Metropolitan College originally said hoodies, hats, caps and veils must be removed so students were easily identifiable.

The move was backed by David Cameron.

But now it has decided to modify its stance to allow individuals to wear "specific items of personal clothing to reflect their cultural values".

 

(The line in bold was highlighted by me.)

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"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

Submitted by Hummus on 13 September, 2013 - 17:32

There was a protest scheduled by Muslimah Pride, today, at one of the campuses in town but it was cancelled as soon as the ban was lifted. 

In my opinion, this wasn't a security issue at all. If students were willing to show their face to security guards or whoever needed to see it when they entered the building, (in the same way that a woman shows her face at the aiport), why did the college think this was insufficient? Because they refused, I fail to see it as a security issue and I think that there's more to it.

I was speaking to a Muslim friend yesterday evening and she agreed with the college's decision. She gave an example: Imagine you're a gori (AKA a person who is White) and you're sitting next to a girl whose is fully covered from head to toe and wearing a Niqab - Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable and awkward?

Hmmm.

 

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Submitted by TPOS on 13 September, 2013 - 20:56

It did seem odd that they wanted the ban despite girls willing to show their face. I'm not surprised Cameron agreed tbh, I'm guessing the ban wasn't agreed on when discussed in Parliament? Cuz there would've been more of an uproar but I haven't heard anything.

At uni I've seen niqaabis doing group work and I do wonder how they feel, I think I might feel a bit awkward myself, at first, tbh. But that's not the point.

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"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi

Submitted by _Me_ on 14 September, 2013 - 19:24

I know someone who wore a niqaab for a bit. She used to take it off in lessons though. I've not seen her wear it since. Probably because its effort taking it off/putting it on or the fact that it is extremely awkward. It would be rational in countries like Pakistan/Saudi. Not here. 

Just saying.

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Submitted by Hummus on 18 September, 2013 - 17:49

@_Me_ - What makes you think that it's irrational in a country like Britain?

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Submitted by TPOS on 18 September, 2013 - 23:07

Just thought I'd share that Shaykh Yaqoubi tweeted "Muslim women living in non-Islamic societies should not wear niqab; it is enough to cover their heads with elegant hijab."

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"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi

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