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Ban on Muslim headscarfs in Singapore schools to remain: Lee
Singapore, Nov 24: The controversial ban on girls wearing Islamic headscarfs in Singapore schools will remain because it promotes racial harmony, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in comments released today.
Singapore, Nov 24: The controversial ban on girls wearing Islamic headscarfs in Singapore schools will remain because it promotes racial harmony, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in comments released today.
In an interview with the Malay language Berita Harian newspaper, lee said the "main unhappiness" among the city-state's minority Muslim-Malay population was the school
restriction on the headscarf, or Tudung, but defended the ban.
"We are especially concerned for the students because at a young age any marks or distinction on any group of students can make others look at them differently," Lee said, according to a transcript released by the government. "This can easily make them feel different and cause them to be segregated from the rest."
Lee said lifting the school Tudung ban could weaken Singapore's multi-racial society, which is predominantly ethnic Chinese with significant Malay and Indian minority populations.
"The issue is not the Tudung itself, but what it means for racial integration and interaction between the communities," he said. "If what we do leads to greater separateness and less interaction, then the comfort level between the different communities will be affected."
Lee cited the debate on similar bans occurring in other countries with Muslim minorities, such as France, Germany and The Netherlands, to assert Singapore's handling of the issue was not unique.
Bureau Report
"We are especially concerned for the students because at a young age any marks or distinction on any group of students can make others look at them differently," Lee said, according to a transcript released by the government. "This can easily make them feel different and cause them to be segregated from the rest."
Lee said lifting the school Tudung ban could weaken Singapore's multi-racial society, which is predominantly ethnic Chinese with significant Malay and Indian minority populations.
"The issue is not the Tudung itself, but what it means for racial integration and interaction between the communities," he said. "If what we do leads to greater separateness and less interaction, then the comfort level between the different communities will be affected."
Lee cited the debate on similar bans occurring in other countries with Muslim minorities, such as France, Germany and The Netherlands, to assert Singapore's handling of the issue was not unique.
Bureau Report