A move to ask Muslim girls in British primary schools why they wear hijabs has been branded institutional Islamophobia. “When are we going to be accepted as British... with the freedom to practice our faith?” human rights barrister Aisha Alvi told RT.

Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman announced the intervention after meeting Muslim and secular campaigners who want a ban on hijabs in primary schools. Spielman said “creating an environment where primary-school children are expected to wear the hijab could be interpreted as sexualisation of young girls.” Inspectors, she said, would “talk to girls who wear such garments to ascertain why they do so in the school.”

She urged anyone who “has a concern about fundamentalist groups influencing school policy, or breaching equality law” to complain to the school. If the school did not act, Ofsted could become involved, she said.

Some schools could be in breach of equality laws if girls were required to wear religious dress with boys free to wear anything they want, Spielman said. “In seeking to address these concerns, inspectors will talk to girls who wear such garments to ascertain why they do so in the school,” the chief inspector said, urging parents and the public to complain to head teachers if they think schools fail to treat girls and boys equally.

Barrister and human rights campaigner Alvi told RT that children’s clothes are not the government’s business. “This should be something which should be a free choice between the parents and the children. And it should be something personal. It is not for the state to intervene in such an issue.

Some schools could be in breach of equality laws if girls were required to wear religious dress with boys free to wear anything they want, Spielman said. “In seeking to address these concerns, inspectors will talk to girls who wear such garments to ascertain why they do so in the school,” the chief inspector said, urging parents and the public to complain to head teachers if they think schools fail to treat girls and boys equally.

Barrister and human rights campaigner Alvi told RT that children’s clothes are not the government’s business. “This should be something which should be a free choice between the parents and the children. And it should be something personal. It is not for the state to intervene in such an issue.

Source: RT

https://www.rt.com/uk/410847-hijab-school-islamophobia-muslim/