The Hijab, Racism, & Education

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Thursday July 24, 2008 17:50 by SWP - SWP

Public Meeting

A Community school in Wexford recently became the focus of a debate about the headscarf or hijab,
that muslim women wear.

To hear the issues and the debate surrounding racism and Education in Ireland come along to the meeting in Wynn’s Hotel, Saturday 26th at 4pm.

14-year-old Shekinah Egan's parents requested that she be allowed to wear the hijab to school in Gorey, Co. Wexford. Her school board of management granted permission but the principal referred the question to the Department of Education, which refused to provide the guidance sought. Nicolas Sweetman, Principal of the school, has called for the Department of Education to issue an official policy for schools.

While the Department of Education has said very little politicians such as Chris Andrews of Fianna Fail and Labour Party spokesperson on Education and Science Ruairi Quinn have both said that headscarves should not be worn in state schools

The Socialist Workers Party while being opposed to women being forced to wear a veil are also opposed to islamophobia and any ban on the hijab.