Aussie Muslim Students Dismissed for Hijab
"This is not good news, it’s a matter of concern to me,” Islamic College of Brisbane principal Mubarak Noor told the Courier Mail on Sunday, May 25.
The controversy has erupted after the dismissal of two Muslim women from Redlands College after showing up while wearing the Islamic headscarf, hijab.
The two teacher students were assigned to a work placement at Redlands College this year.
Claiming “duty of care”, the Christian school’s principal Mark Bensley has moved the veiled Muslim students, who were in their final year of a teaching degree, to another school.
“I have a duty of care to ensure that those teaching at the College are actively supporting the Christian principles, practices and beliefs of the College,” the principal wrote in a newsletter that outlines reasons for dismissing the Muslim students.
“I see the wearing of the hijab as openly acting in a manner that is contrary to or inconsistent with these principles, practices and beliefs.
“While I respect their desire to wear a hijab, I feel it’s inappropriate to do so at Redlands College,” Bensley added after denying the Muslim women a teaching placement at his college.
The controversial decision was vigorously criticized by many parents as well as the Muslim community who was “frustrated”.
Bensley’s actions “directly contradict the basic foundations of the Christian faith,” the Uniting Church Minister Reverend Anneli Sinnko said.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.
Christian Values
Defending Principal's decision, Redlands College asserted that it “respects and loves all people, from all backgrounds and religions”.
“However we don’t hide our Christian values and we provide an important educational option for families seeking Christian education,” the college said in a statement.
“We are not aware that they (student teachers) had any concerns, and it is our understanding that all parties came to a mutual agreement for the benefit of all.”
Facing accusations of acting against the Christian tolerance, Redlands College spokesman said: “This has nothing to do with religious intolerance, which we condemn outright.”
According to Section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, employers are allowed to enforce a “genuine occupational requirement that workers act in a way that is consistent with the religious beliefs of the school”.
Recently, hijab started to get a worldwide reorganization and acceptance, allowing it after being banned for years in several countries.
On March 1, 2014, FIFA officials decided to allow the Islamic headscarf in matches.
Meanwhile, a new policy for Minneapolis’ St. Paul police has allowed Muslim policewomen to don Islamic headscarf or hijab.
Source: OnIslam.net
