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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria suspends fully veiled school teachers |
| 2010-07-01 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Hundreds of Syrian teachers wearing the face veil were dismissed from their schools as the Ministry of Education said they undermine the secularism of the state, according to press reports Tuesday. Syrian Minister of Education Ali Saad said in a meeting with heads of Teachers Syndicate offices that the dismissal of 1,200 teachers who wear the face veil, also called the 'niqab,' was necessary, the Lebanese daily As-Safir reported Tuesday. "Other ministers are going to do the same thing shortly," he said. Saad justified his decision by arguing that the face veil is not in line with the secular policies followed by the state as far as education is concerned. "Education in Syrian schools follows an objective, secular methodology and this is undermined by wearing the face veil." He also pointed out that the face veil disrupts the teaching process as it hinders eye contact, which is extremely important for the relationship between teacher and student. Therefore, information is not delivered properly to the students. The ministry's decision affected teachers in various parts of Syria, especially the governorates Rif Dimashq in the south west and Aleppo in the north where teachers in nearly 300 schools in each were dismissed. The number dwindled remarkably in the capital Damascus, while some governorates were not affected at all like Quneitra in the south. The dismissed teachers, half of which have contracts with the ministry, were transferred to the Ministry of Local Administration, especially in the municipalities. Several of the dismissed teachers submitted complaints which the minister promised will be thoroughly studies. "We will look into their complaints and all they won't lose their rights," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 And not a peep about this from the liberal PC fucks. Wonder why? (rolls his eyes) |
| Posted by: Mike Hunt 2010-07-01 19:00 |
| #5 heh. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2010-07-01 14:09 |
| #4 The Syrian regime remembers Hama, even if the current crowd running Washington doesn't. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2010-07-01 12:03 |
| #3 Since the government is run by Alawite heretics, they are threatened by most Islamicists, even other Shiite ones... |
| Posted by: imoyaro 2010-07-01 11:57 |
| #2 Which raises the question of whether the regime is feeling threatened by Islamicists of some group or another. Dang. Now I'm feeling conflicted. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-07-01 10:24 |
| #1 Which raises the question of whether the regime is feeling threatened by Islamicists of some group or another. |
| Posted by: lotp 2010-07-01 07:06 |