Headscarves ‘not modest enough’ for Muslim girls

A SECONDARY school has become embroiled in a headscarf row with parents over plans to introduce a standardised veil for Muslim girls after some complained that the new headdresses are not modest enough.

Sir John Thursby Community College, in Burnley, has been forced to clarify its position after an online petition was launched by parents warning that the new headscarves resemble a “swimming cap” and are “too short”. Previously, girls wishing to wear a headscarf were permitted to choose their own style – providing it was black – as is required by other local secondary schools.

But now a dispute has escalated between parents and staff after plans were announced for school-approved veils amid concerns that some were not being worn “correctly”.

According to the petition, the new veils are “very displeasing” for pupils and pose a health and safety risk because they can “cause suffocation if they are pulled back by another person”.

It was reported that little consultation had taken place with parents or girls attending the school. Consequently, a scarf designed by the school was produced. It is said to be tight and in some cases too short, as some of the girls have long hair.

Signed by more than 150 people, the petition claims that some children have been told to remove their scarves and replace them with one approved by the school, which the signatories allege is “not a choice but an ultimatum”. It also questions the reasoning behind the new uniform rule, adding: “So what is the real agenda? Is it to put girls off wearing one at all?”

Shah Hussain, a local councillor, said that he had been contacted by several parents who had written to the school to voice their concerns.

“Children have told them it is not appropriate,” he added. “The whole point is it is supposed to protect the wearer’s modesty, and that does not happen. They are quite unhappy about it. It is quite short and leaves the chest area not covered. The wearers are saying it should serve a purpose and if it is not serving the purpose, why should they wear it?

“It has to be designed with the wearer in mind and the wearer helping to design it.”

Headmaster David Burton has written to parents to defend the policy and dismiss suggestions that the school is “against” headscarves as misleading.

“We are sorry that there have been suggestions that the school is against headscarves,” he wrote.

“This is not true. We respect fully the wishes of girls to wear a headscarf and we always have done.

“Students, staff and parents had expressed some concerns that some students were not wearing headscarves correctly although the rules had not changed.

“We looked towards changing the uniform policy to include a uniform headscarf as we were aware that a change needed to be considered.”