[British] Islamic schools making girls wear veils and burkas

The Telegraph ^ | 9/18/2013 | Rosa Silverman

[markomalley]

A number of the religious schools enforce uniform policies where such clothing is mandatory, even for girls as young as 11.

Under the dress code stipulated by the Madani Girls’ School in Tower Hamlets, East London, all pupils must wear a black burka and long black coat when outside.

The girls must also wear headscarves in the classroom and the school says on its website that its uniform rule "conforms to the Islamic Code of dressing and must be adhered to at all times".

The Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, in Southall, West London, insists its pupils wear a navy blue burka or Jilbab, a long, loose-fitting garment that does not cover the face, when walking between lessons, The Times reported.

According to the school’s website, it is "not willing to compromise on any issues regarding uniform".

[RginTN]

And the EDL is viewed as extreme in the UK...

[kearnyirish2]

These are private schools; in the US our Catholic schools don’t let girls dress like prostitutes. If people don’t want to use those schools then they don’t have to.

In France many Muslims send their children to Catholic schools because the public schools don’t allow any Islamic clothes like this.

[RginTN]

I thought british public schools had to wear a uniform???

[kearnyirish2]

My town’s public schools (in NJ) have to wear a unifrom as well; they aren’t religious garb.

[silverleaf]

I presume the boys can wear them too

It is merry old England after all

But God forbid anyone wear a cross

[al_c]

And this comes as a surprise? It’s a Muslim school.

[logic101.net]

Last Friday in the grocery store I saw a muslim man with his (apparently) daughter/slave in line. He was dressed lightly with open toed sandals, loose short sleeved shirt, etc. His slave was covered head to toe, only eyes visible.

[the scotsman]

If you know their background, yes. They are counterproductive, if you want to support British conservatism and antiMuslim extremism, support UKIP.

[Tanniker Smith]

It’s a private school. As long as “at all times” means school hours or on school grounds, what’s the problem?

[naturalman1975]

I thought british public schools had to wear a uniform???

Generally, yes, most British state schools require children to wear a uniform. But a state school would be unlikely to be allowed to have a uniform that required students to wear extreme religious dress. A private school, however, generally could.

(note - 'Public School' has a very different meaning in the UK from its meaning in the US, so discussing these things can get confusing, but what Americans would call a public school is more often referred to as a state school in England and Wales)