Philippine school bans Muslim hijab
Mehol Sadain, who heads the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, said Sunday he had written to Pilar College in the mixed Muslim-Christian port city of Zamboanga to demand it reverse its policy.
While the school was right to claim it could exercise academic freedom, Sadain said it should do so with "justice and fair play".
"Pilar College should realise that while educational institutions can formulate their own policies, the same should not run counter to existing laws and state policies," Sadain said.
The complaint has reached the local city council, which asked the school to reply to the allegations.
The school is believed to be the first in the Philippines to enforce an outright ban on wearing the hijab.
Sadain noted that an education department policy states that Muslim girls should be allowed to wear their head coverings in school and be exempted from non-Muslim religious rites.
But the school, run by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, said in its letter to the council that it could not "deviate" from its Catholic leanings.
It said students from other religions were welcome to enrol but must strictly follow its non-hijab policy.
"Rules and regulations are explained to them, particularly the non-wearing of the hijab or veil," the school said.
"This is part of academic freedom in connection with which the school has the right to choose whom to teach," it said.
It was not clear what percentage of students were Muslim but it is fairly common that children from different denominations or religions mix at school in the mainly Catholic but largely tolerant Philippines.
Education department officials in Manila were not available for comment Sunday.
More than 80 percent of the Philippines' nearly 100 million population are Catholic, while Muslims form a large minority in the south of the country.
COMMENTS (11)
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So,ban for nuns too?,,if you're christian,why is it virgin Mary wearing her veil,the nuns, and even some of the believers...what's wrong of wearing that veil on entering that christian school?,,?Is there any nuisance from them or inconvinience?
Since Philippines is a christian country they have the right to impose their own policies and people with different religions should abide them. Same thing with Filipinos who go to Muslim countries for work they need to follow the strict policies imposed by their counterpart Muslim people..so both party should respect each other...As I experienced it is more difficult to deal on Muslim policies in other countries because they are very strict...but the thing is it is still being abide and respect by other people with different religion. So in return Muslim should respect also the beliefs of their counterparts.
I love these Middle Eastern Abrahmic religions. I love the way spread peace and tolerance. You can't beat the God told me so logic!
@FU, Why world cried when taliban in afghanistan make a law to put yellow piece of cloth on arms of non muslims......
Just wondering if NUNS there are also required to remove their "HIJAB" at that school, apparently rules are same in both religions, just Catholics only expect clergy to follow them. Or on the other hand muslim girls can dress in same head covering as nuns and get around the ban.
@resilient: Don't know which school you are talking about but it will be a rare case. And even if it exist, it does not mean that someone should also do it.
@Moise good point!
@FU if you read the article carefully, it poitns out that it is not a state law, it was enforced by the school only. And yes one should adhere to the laws of the countires, look at UAE and even Malaysia, non Muslims have rights.
@resilient not sure what you are talking abt....never seen anything like that
Banned for nuns too?
They did the right thing.Philippines is a Catholic country.They have every right to do what they want.Since some of the Pakistan Muslims were giving a lecture about how Saudi Arabia is a declared islamic country and how foreigners have to adhere to their values,Now its time a Christian country enforce their values on Muslims.Let us see what response we are going to get.
No ones forced to wear a veil in Pakistani Schools. Dont know which Karachi you're talking about! Absurd.
here in pak, minority pupils are forced wear this Hijab in schools and on resistance are threatened to quit school and this happens in this metropolitan city, Karachi not in any rural area. What respect muslims have abroad but they compulse their beliefs on innocent minorities in their own country.