The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a ban by the Russian region of Vladimir on the wearing of an Islamic headscarf, or hijab, as well as other religious symbols in schools.
According to the ban, which was enacted last Tuesday, “clothing and elements demonstrating the student’s religious affiliation…are not allowed inside educational institutions,” including hijabs.
SEE: Russia’s Vladimir Region Bans Hijabs in Schools – The Moscow Times
“Religious freedom is an essential human right, and only tyrannical governments seek to infringe on it by banning individual expressions of spiritual principles,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We condemn the hijab ban by the authorities in Vladimir and urge them to reverse this discriminatory decision.”
Hooper said CAIR often defends the right to wear hijab in the United States and to be free of harassment or discrimination for wearing Islamic attire.
He noted that in June, CAIR condemned the passage of a bill in Tajikistan to ban hijab and other Islamic clothing.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com