WASHINGTON – A sixth-grade Muslim girl in Oklahoma can wear a head scarf to school under a settlement between the school district and the Justice Department, officials announced yesterday.
The six-year agreement, filed in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma, requires the Muskogee Public School District to change its dress code to allow exceptions for religious reasons. Anyone who wanted an exception to the dress code would need to apply to the district.
“This settlement reaffirms the principle that public schools cannot require students to check their faith at the schoolhouse door,” said R. Alexander Acosta, assistant attorney general for civil rights.
The government filed suit in March on behalf of Nashala Hearn, 11. She had been suspended twice by the district for wearing a head scarf, or hijab, to class. School officials said her clothing violated a dress code banning hats and other head coverings.
Nashala and her family said she wore the scarf as part of her observance of Islam. The complaint charged the district with religious discrimination.
Acosta told reporters that school officials raised their initial objections on Sept. 11, 2003 - exactly two years after the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and rural Pennsylvania - even though Nashala had worn the scarf for several weeks. The officials, Acosta said, told her that students were “frightened” by her scarf.
“It is un-American to fear and to hate,” Acosta said.
The deal requires the district to train teachers and administrators about the new dress code and to publicize the change.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
The officials, Acosta said, told her that students were "frightened" by her scarf.
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I am afraid I just don't understand these kinda statements. A typical scarf is much different from, say, a hand gun... right? Are the officials making these things up or are the students really so ignorant?
Anyway, interesting to note that the Justice Deptt fought on behalf of the muslim girl against the school district. Its actually unusual for a school district to impose such restrictions. May be only in Oklahoma kinda thing.
I think I have mentioned it here before, that here in California, where my daughter goes to school, on couple of instances where I approached the school district, they went out of their way to emphasize that they are very sensitive to religious freedom. In one instance they were perfectly willing for us to pick our daughter early on every Friday to go for prayers, and in another instance, rescheduled the class routine to accomodate Eid prayers. There are absolutely no restrictions on wearing head scarves, as far as I know.