Banning veil in Damascus University seen as a "courageous" decision by a Syrian MP

Damascus – North-Press Agency
Ahmad Kanaan

The Presidency of Damascus University has issued to the deans of colleges to apply the decision issued in 2010, which stipulate prohibition of wearing the veil, shorts, and sportswear in the Syrian universities. This has sparked a wave of contradictory reactions between supporters and refusers and the difficulty of implementing this decision, especially in the colleges of Sharia, which was the reason for previously delaying the decision, while a member of the Syrian Parliament described the decision as "courageous."

North-Press polled the views of students at Damascus University about this decision, as there were those who wanted to keep religious symbols away from universities and  and academic institutions, as well as not to wear sportswear for the sake of respecting the university, while others who considered it a violation of personal and religious freedoms.

Jawdat al-Beik, a student at the College of Civil Engineering, said: "The university has the right to feel more respected and serious by students so that the educational process can continue in a real and successful manner," considering it illogical when students come with sleeping pajamas or sports shorts because this would makes the staff feel offended. Regarding banning the veil, he said that it's a special issue stemming from religious beliefs, and it shouldn't be prevented.

While Sherine Halima, a student at the Faculty of Law, said: "This decision contributes to running the exam process in a better way, as it is not appropriate to enter the university while wearing shorts."

As for Daleen Abdullah, she expressed her complete satisfaction with this decision and demanded the return of the unified university dress, because it distinguishes the university students in society and make all students equal.

Marah Hanna, a student at the Faculty of Arts, she expressed her fear of people who wear the veil at universities, "I am with the decision because I really was afraid when any veiled woman was near me, we do not know what is there under the veil," she said.

A veiled student (R.N) at the College of Pharmacy, said: "This decision is unjust and I may stop my studies for it." She added that girls could be placed in search to verify the identity of the veiled, she made it clear that the veil is imposed on her and she cannot confront her community by taking it off.

while another veiled student (S. A), considered the decision as a suppression of religious beliefs, she said: "Why are not they forbidding wearing the cross or any other religious symbol?"

The member of the Syrian Parliament, Nabil Saleh Maarouf, told North-Press: “The decision to ban the veil and thawb (garment) in the Syrian universities is a civilized and courageous decision, we will monitor the ability of the university institution to implement it, because the College of Sharia and Endowments and their youth team will not let it pass easily."

Dr. Muhammad Al-Omar, the Dean of the Faculty of Information and the Official Spokesperson of the University of Damascus, told a local radio that the reason for the re-implementation of the decision is to control cases of cheating in the exams and cases of infiltration into the residence of the students, he also said he supports any new decision to ban any religious symbol, based on what many students want.