This Arab News story reports that female Saudi students are running into problems with their hijabs in French medical schools. The article—and apparently some of the students—confuses the French law that prohibits wearing of religious symbols in elementary and secondary schools (which ban also includes kippeh or yarmulke and large crosses), with separate rules of medical schools which ban head coverings as unhygienic.
Wearing hijab in French universities is not, as a rule, forbidden. Medical schools, however, have other issues than laïcité in mind. I realize that Saudi medical schools don’t see this as a problem, but the French see it otherwise.
Hijab Rule an Obstacle for Saudi Students in France?
Fatima Sidiya, Arab NewsJEDDAH, 10 June 2008 — A Saudi student, who recently gained a scholarship to pursue higher medical studies in France, has decided not to go as she has been told that she would not be allowed to wear her hijab there.
H. Abdulhadi, who did not want to give her first name, said she wanted to study Obstetrics and Gynecology in France, and has now decided not to go due to the country’s strict rules on hijab. “There should be a clear agreement between our two governments by which Muslims going there for education could keep their hijabs on,” she said.
According to an official at the French Embassy, the law does not allow students to wear hijabs in medical schools in France. “This is only in hospitals. They can do what they want outside,” he said, adding that the rule is not directed at Muslims alone, but applies to people of all faiths.
“You are not allowed to display any symbols of religion,” said the official, adding that this is a law that cannot be changed and is followed in some other countries.
Abdulhadi, who has already spent over SR7,000 studying French, said she is not worried about wasting the money and losing her scholarship. “The hijab is part of my faith, something that I cannot ignore. … Officials need to sort this out,” she added.
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Somewhat related is this piece from the Italian news agency AKI: Italy: Veils not mandatory for Muslim women, says Islamic leader
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09:24,
[...] According to John Burgess, there is some confusion around this issue. Apparently wearing hijab in French universities is not [...]
09:57,
[...] Crossroads Arabia links to the newspaper article and offers the following explanation: This Arab News story reports that female Saudi students are running into problems with their hijabs in French medical schools. The article—and apparently some of the students—confuses the French law that prohibits wearing of religious symbols in elementary and secondary schools (which ban also includes kippeh or yarmulke and large crosses), with separate rules of medical schools which ban head coverings as unhygienic. [...]
18:20,
[...] Crossroads Arabia rimanda al giornale che pubblica l'intervista un link al giornale e offre la sua spiegazione: Questa notizia da Arab News riporta che le studentesse saudite hanno problemi con il loro hijab nelle scuole mediche francesi. L'articolo - e apparentemente alcune studentesse - confondono la legge francese che proibisce di indossare simboli religiosi nelle scuole elementari e secondarie pubbliche (il divieto include kippeh o yarmulk e grandi croci), con un'altra norma delle scuole di medicina che proibiscono di coprirsi il capo perché non è igienico. [...]