Egyptian court upholds niqab ban for professors at Cairo University

Egypt's Administrative Court upheld Tuesday a decision by the president of Cairo University to ban its academic staff from wearing the face veil, or niqab, during classes.

“It is not allowed for academic staff and their assistants, at all faculties and institutions, to teach theoretical or practical classes or to attend laboratories or practical trainings while wearing the niqab,” the university's decision stated.

Lawyer Ahmed Mahran had filed four lawsuits against university president Gaber Nassar with the administrative court on the grounds that the October decision was unconstitutional.

Mahran represents 80 researchers who wear the niqab.

Nassar has said the decision was made for the sake of "general welfare" and is meant to "ease communication with students" and "advance the educational process," adding that the ban is restricted to classrooms at the times of lectures, so teachers are still allowed to wear their niqab on campus.
 ahram.org.eg
19/1/16
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