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Oklahoma officials bar Muslim teen from school over hijab
Muskogee, Oct 10: A Muslim teenager`s battle to wear her religious headdress to school has landed her in hot water with authorities in the state of Oklahoma, and the issue could go all the way to the courts, officials said.
Muskogee, Oct 10: A Muslim teenager's battle to
wear her religious headdress to school has landed her in hot
water with authorities in the state of Oklahoma, and the issue
could go all the way to the courts, officials said.
Education officials in Muskogee, Oklahoma, have twice
suspended Nashala Hearn from Benjamin Franklin Science
Academy for violating school dress code by wearing the Muslim
head scarf, or hijab
The 11-year-old is scheduled to return to school next
week after her latest five-day suspension, but officials say
Hearn will not be admitted to class if she continues to wear
the scarf in violation of school rules.
The school district's dress code bans students from
wearing hats, caps, bandanas or other headwear inside school
buildings, and was initially devised to deter gang-related
activity, according to education officials.
The school district's dress code bans students from
wearing hats, caps, bandanas or other headwear inside school
buildings, and was initially devised to deter gang-related
activity, according to education officials.
Education officials in this town 200 km east of
Oklahoma city, said they were not inclined to make exceptions
to the rule on religious grounds.
"We have to be as neutral as possible with all religious requests," Eldon Gleichman, superintendent of Muskogee public schools said yesterday.
"I can't let the door open for one and not expect the door to be thrown open wide for everybody."
Hearn's father, Eyvine Hearn, an African-American who converted to Islam, is determined his daughter won't back down.
Bureau Report
"We have to be as neutral as possible with all religious requests," Eldon Gleichman, superintendent of Muskogee public schools said yesterday.
"I can't let the door open for one and not expect the door to be thrown open wide for everybody."
Hearn's father, Eyvine Hearn, an African-American who converted to Islam, is determined his daughter won't back down.
Bureau Report