Residents of the southern city of Luxor "were angered after the teacher in a niqab cut the hair of two sixth-form students to oblige them to wear the veil," independent daily Al-Shuruk reported.
Another daily, Al-Masry al-Youm, quoted the woman as saying: "I did not imagine that cutting off two centimetres (of hair) was a great crime.
"I was joking with them when one of the students got out some scissors and asked me to carry out my threat. I did it to maintain my authority."
The father of one of the girls filed a formal complaint against the teacher, who said she has been wearing the niqab for five years and who was sanctioned with the loss of a month's salary.
Most Muslim women in Egypt cover their hair, but the full face veil is associated with the ultra-conservative Salafist school of thought.
Ironically, Egypt's Al-Azhar University, the most prestigious centre of religious learning in the Sunni Muslim world, banned the face veil from its female-only classrooms and residences in 2009.
Since the election this year of President Mohamed Morsi, who comes from the Muslim Brotherhood, there have been fears among more liberal Egyptians that the influence in the public sphere of Muslim fundamentalists will grow.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Usman:
With due respect Usman, I do not agree with you on the "Mind Your Own Business" theory, however that is totally different debate.
My point was, that most of the events/acts that are considered as "religious" extremism, has got nothing to do with religion or Islam at the first place. Why don't you just treat it as any other crime. It is not because of Extreme belief in Islam, or any other ideology. Its a crime, treat it as one. By saying its a "Religious Extremism" you are believing that it is within the domain of that religion, be it an extreme domain.
Any ways ... never mind ... i may be wrong ... but its the way i feel ... cheers .. good weekend .. i gotta rush out of office now !!! :)
@Cynical: You are very kind Sir. Would like to assure you, I always pay attention to your comments as well. They are always sensible and depending on the subject also thoughtful and insightful.
@Raw is War: This teacher got sanctioned...you ll get a bonus i guess by your employer for consistent anti Pakistan outrage. Dude why cant you get a life.
@Python: That theory was busted long ago. Most of the extremism and hate in Pakistan come from the middle and the upper class; you won't see a daily wage laborer leading anti-Ahmedi protests.
Islam is unlike other religions. Islam has no capacity to change with times. So, either you believe in "True" Islam or you are out. As per the news, welcome to 6th century.
@Usman: hos of us who live in the United States can attest to how Arabs are thought of with negativity - mostly because of barbaric acts like this. If anything, Pakistanis are better respected than Arabs Iranians and other Muslims who are portrayed as savages. In the final analysis, all Muslim societies need to be more tolerant and that is why they are all ridiculed in the West.
@gp65
You always bring some sort of sanity amidst the hyperbole around. Keep it up.
@Ali:
Well Mr. Ali, I am not sure if you have been following the news lately but because of following religion to the core as you have described has getting a lot of people killed every where around the world. My beef with the Egyptian teacher is his forceful acts against a child that refuses to wear veil. And it does have everything to do with religion, you don't see even the same in other religious populations. Muslims like these have become an annoyance for the whole world.
See this problem can be solved VERY VERY easily if people gave a mind to the simple phrase "Mind you own business"
I can dance, listen to music, watch TV do whatever non-Islamic thing (even being a Muslim) I want but you in no way what so ever should feel the need to correct me.
This incident just bust the theory that says that people are extremist because of illiteracy.Egypt is quite well off in economy and these people are literate still they do such things. Goes on to prove that something is wrong with their 'ideology'
@Usman:
Ahh common man usman ... this is not "Religious craziness" ... this is just "craziness" or what ever form of "craziness".
This has got nothing to do with religion. We have completely failed to draw the line between religion and what ever else. Extremist, Islamist these are all terms hat have no meaning. No one can be an Extremist. Either you follow a religion/ideology or you don't.
What ever that is painted in color of "Extremism", are concepts/acts that were never imposed by Islam at the first place. And therefore calling some one extremist based on his/her belief means you at least agree that his/her that very belief is part of Islam. It is not.
for example in the above story, "veil" has got nothing to do with Islam !!!. It was just a ancient Arab "Qabiele" culture. And not even across all of the Arab world. In Islam covering head is compulsory for women. Thats it. You can not consider veil an extremist form of Islam, as it is not imposed by Islam at the first place.
Regards.
Egypt is going Pakistan's way.
Welcome to "brotherhood" democracy of 21st century!
What seems to have happened is very different from the headline. IT was a poor judgment exercised by a teacher when one of her students (the one who provided the scissors) challenged her authority. It was not the religious issue that is being made out to be - at least going bythe teacher's statement which no-one seems to contradict.
And I thought only we were on extreme ends of religious craziness. Why cant we all be more tolerant...