Thursday, January 12, 2012

Sweden's Teachers Get OK to Ban Islamic Veils; Ban Limited to Safety Risks, Obstacle to Learning

The Europe News website reports today (January 12, 2012) that teachers in Swedish schools can -- in certain situations -- prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, Sweden's school agency has ruled.

The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers, or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory.

However, a general ban on headscarves has not been approved.

Updated guidelines were issued on January 11 by the Swedish National Agency for Education. The guidance comes in response to a 2009 case in which two women sued an adult education center in Spanga -- a city north of Stockholm -- after they were banned from class for wearing niqabs.

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