Students at a top Auckland girls school were told the hijab violates dress code despite national calls to support Muslim community in the wake of a terrorist attack.
Less than a week after the terror attack in Christchurch that killed 50 muslim worshipers, a top New Zealand girls school has enforced a ban on the headscarf as part of its dress code.
The principal of Diocesan School for Girls, Heather McRae, informed staff yesterday the Islamic hijab violated the dress code and was not allowed, according to a teacher at the school.
A teacher, who spoke to TRT World and does not wish to be named, said the announcement was made after concerns were raised by a colleague about some of the school’s Muslim students not being able to wear the hijab.
Two of the students who enquired about wearing the hijab were told it was against school policy. They raised it with their teacher, who wasn’t aware the policy existed.
“Then we had an announcement saying there was a staff briefing,” said the teacher.
In that briefing, he says McRae told staff the policy was not something new, and that she expected them to enact it and not fight it.
“She said ‘and of course, you’ve all signed onto this. I want you to support this position, not oppose it.’”
He says the teachers were stunned by the announcement from McRae.
“There was just silence. I got the feeling that people were shocked this was a thing.”
Source: TRT World
