Muslim women in Mordovia complain about pressure from teachers, school and university administrations

Mordovian Muslims complain that teachers require schoolgirls not to wear headscarves, and university students who come wearing headscarves are not allowed to attend classes.

On September 11, 2014, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Mordovia reported problems that Muslim women in the republic had encountered with the start of the school year.

In accordance with the decree of the Republican government on the introduction of school uniforms, the administration of many schools requires that Muslim students not wear headscarves in the building.

“Parents of schoolgirls report that their children return from school upset, they are brought to tears, and due to constant pressure from teachers and school principals, their daughters are afraid to go to school. Many parents of schoolgirls note that they have already been repeatedly invited to school, where they were told that their daughters should not wear a headscarf to school,” says the press service of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate.

According to the muftiate, the Education Department of the Department of Social Policy of the Saransk City District Administration asks to report daily to the school curator about those who wear Muslim clothing.

In addition, several students of Mordovian State University named after. N.P. Ogarev and another university, whose name was not disclosed, were not allowed to attend classes wearing a headscarf.

The parents of the schoolgirls intend to go to court.

Sources

• Mordovian schoolgirls and students are prohibited from wearing the hijab, parents intend to go to court // Muslims of Russia. 2014. September 11.