(Brussels Times) The hijab — the headscarf worn by Muslim women as the minimum form of coverage — should be the subject of a ban in schools under the next legislature, according to federal secretary of state Zuhal Demir.
“The headscarf has no place in schools,” she said.
The hijab, derived from the instruction from the Quran for women (and men) to dress modestly, has been the subject of controversy in Belgium for years, from the ban on the garment at a school in Antwerp to a ban on wearing by communal workers who deal with the public — a ban which was extended to include crucifixes and Stars of David to avoid accusations of religious discrimination.
