The Egyptian government released a statement on Monday announcing that female students in the country have been banned from wearing the niqab, a face-covering veil, at schools, and the locals have different opinions about it.<\/p>\n
According to Ahram, an Egyptian newspaper, Education Minister Reda Hegazy, in a statement released on Monday, said students have an \u201coptional\u201d right to choose if they will cover their hair at school.<\/p>\n
She, however, added that if the students choose to cover their hair, they cannot cover their face.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny form of hair covering that contravenes the condition of the face being visible is not acceptable and the hair covering should be in the colour chosen by the ministry and local education directorate,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The statement about the ban that will be enforced starting from the academic year on September 30 and continuing until June 8, 2024, is quite straightforward.<\/p>\n
However, Egyptians stand divided about the statement as they anonymously expressed varying opinions when questioned about the ban by Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n
A 33-year-old marketing manager from Alexandria said he is against the niqab being worn at schools because it blurs what should be a \u201ctransparent\u201d educational process.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that obscures teachers from properly reading the student\u2019s body language and facial expression to be able to help them or show necessary attention should not be allowed at schools,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another Alexandria local also agreed with the government\u2019s ban, saying that the implementation of this decision is necessary from a security perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool authorities should be able to identify people going in and out of schools,\u201d the 38-year-old architect said, adding that niqab-wearing students often feel alienated in mixed or segregated schools, and the ban may prompt some parents to transfer their children from mixed schools to female-only ones.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, a 45-year-old writer from Cairo, thinks the government\u2019s decision is the latest case of how women are used as \u201cpunching bags \u2026 socially, politically and economically\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter under what pretext, or none \u2026 females always pull the short straw,\u201d she said. “A story as old as time and one that continues to be written and many applaud\/decry it depending on which lens they have slapped on to see the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWith France banning the abaya and the burkini, Egypt following suit with the niqab ban and before that the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade and the Taliban continuing to severely constrain and constrict females from basically living \u2013 the policing of women\u2019s bodies continues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, a 33-year-old civil engineer, expressed support for women wearing niqab at schools \u201cas it is part of everyone\u2019s freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cEgypt is a Muslim country,\u201d he said adding that he believed it would be difficult to erase the country\u2019s identity with such a decision. The government took this decision \u201cto enhance security in all the fields, which I find to be against human rights\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
The statement announcing the ban says a student should make the decision to cover her hair \u201cbased on her own personal desire without any pressure or force from any person or any other entity other than the parents\u201d, hinting at local religious groups and movements.<\/p>\n