Syria bans veiled faces in universities

SYRIA: Syria issued a directive restricting women from wearing full face veils while attending public and private universities.

Fearing an ever-secular Syria might turn to radical Islam, authorities have quietly banned the niqab in public universities; a move welcomed by most Syrians, CBS News reported.

Syrian Minister of Higher Education Ghiath Barakat issued the decree prohibiting female students wearing the face veil from entering university campuses on Sunday. The decision was issued based on the requests of several parents who demanded that their girls be educated in a place that is devoid of any aspects of extremism, the minister said. Concerns about the face veil were especially voiced in private universities.

"The full face veil, or niqab, that is worn by some Muslim women is "inconsistent with the values and ethics of academic traditions," the minister was quoted as saying.

According to CBS news the majority of Syrians, of all different age groups, expressed support for getting niqabs and burqas not only out of schools and universities but out of all public places as well.

This move follows the earlier dismissal of 1,200 female teachers in Syria, allegedly for wearing the full Islamic veil.