Court denies stay order on school children’s face veil ban
School age children attending school dressed in niqab should not be discriminated against by society or school, according to these parents.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Civil Court on Monday ruled that it was not possible to issue an interim order staying the implementation of the Arabiyya School's directive banning children to cover their faces when attending school, as per the petition filed by the parents of the school.
On April 2, some parents of the school filed a petition in the Civil Court seeking a verdict on the General Rules of School Students' Regulations issued by the education ministry, claiming that the regulation was hindering their rights.
They also sought an interim injunction against the ministry and requested the court to issue a directive staying the school’s authority in implementing education ministry regulations.
On Monday, a decision was made on this interim order. The Civil Court had ruled that there was no place to pass the order.
In its judgment, the Civil Court said:
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It is not clear from the chargesheet that the charge was filed by the parents of students wearing niqab at Arabiyya School
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It is unlikely that those seeking interim injunction can apply for such an order
According to the complaint filed by a group of Arabiyya parents against the school and the education ministry, the general regulations for school children and the recent ban on going to school wearing face veils were imposed after the students had earlier been allowed to attend school wearing face veils.
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Notices being issued to students wearing face veils saying that wearing face veils violates the school uniform code, and the parents feel that this regulation is hindering their education
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Wearing face veils is accepted by society and allowed within the community
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They claim that there are children who don't want to step outside their homes without wearing face veils, of their own accord
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They believe that no regulation or instruction can be issued hindering their education without first ensuring that these children have an alternative to complete their education, which is every child’s basic human right
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School age children attending school with their faces covered and dressed in face veil should not be discriminated against by society or school, according to these parents
