Monday, February 13, 2012

News / From Our Bureaus

Kazakh Teacher Not Allowed To Wear Hijab At School

Aida Dekebaeva wants to wear the hijab while teaching.

TEXT SIZE - +

December 08, 2009

A high school geography teacher in the southeastern Kazakh city of Taldy-Qorghan has turned to the Prosecutor's Office for permission to wear an Islamic head scarf (hijab) while teaching, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Aida Dekebaeva says school principal Gulnara Muratbekova "recommended" that she not wear the hijab while teaching.

Dekebaeva said the school recently adopted a dress code that bans head scarves for both students and teachers.

Muratbekova told RFE/RL that she warned Dekebaeva about the way she dresses and told her to make sure it is in accordance with Education Department guidelines.

Meanwhile, local human rights activist Aliya Kasymkhankyzy told RFE/RL that the constitution protects the right of every citizen to worship any religion and school principals should respect Dekebaeva's right to dress as she wishes.

Dekebaeva says she is ready for a long-term fight but is awaiting the Prosecutor's Office to respond to her letter.

This forum has been closed.

Comment Sorting

Comments

by: Turgai Sangar from: Eurasia

December 09, 2009 08:49

Kudos to this brave sister.

by: Sergey from: Chicago, IL, USA

December 09, 2009 17:18

My answer is simple: want to live according to Islamic Laws and wear Hijab, go to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Afghanistan. Kazakhstan is a secular country and should remain so. Islamization of Kazakhstan will have dangerous political implications for Eurasia and Europe, so my response will be kudos to Kazakh authorities. No to Islamization !

by: Turgai Sangar from: Eurasia

December 10, 2009 10:05

Well we know what 'secularism' means in practice.... Either case, this woman has a lot more guts than the scores of anti-Islamic sofa and online crusaders.

by: David from: USA

December 10, 2009 17:34

My anwer to Sergey! I tell you what...if don't know about Islam, if you don't have any imagination about Islam,then you shouldn't speak in this way! One day you will have to be responsible for each word,that left your mouth... first learn about Islam,then speak...

by: KZBlog from: Astana

December 11, 2009 04:58

I am torn on this issue. On the one hand, I think Kazakhstan should be a secular country that promotes no one religion. On the other hand, all religions should be tolerated in a secular country and I just don't see why wearing a head scarf is harmful. If the teacher were to proselytize to students or give bad grades to students who don't wear the head scarf, that would be a problem. But I don't see why wearing a piece of cloth on your head is evil.

by: Turgai Sangar from: Eurasia

December 11, 2009 15:14

"First learn about Islam,then speak..." Indeed. For those who are are interested:

“Does Islam oppress women?”
http://www.khilafah.com/images/images/PDF/Books/Does_Islam_oppress_women.pdf

“An introduction to the Islamic Social System”
http://www.khilafah.com/index.php/the-khilafah/social-system/387-an-introduction-to-the-social-system