Veiled freedom

The case of a Shorouq Airlines co-pilot, fired for wearing the veil, will be heard by the Labour Court later this month. Mona El-Nahhas reports
Nireen Ahmed Samir, a 35-year-old co-pilot, was appalled when her employers, Shorouq Airlines, sacked her for wearing the higab or Islamic veil. "I did not make any change to the uniform as described in the operations manual. I just wore a scarf," Samir complained angrily. "How could anybody deprive me of my freedom like this, so long as I do not violate the law, the constitution or the company regulations?" Samir is not fully veiled. She does not wear a cloak or a long veil, but simply uses a scarf to cover her hair under her co-pilot's cap.
The co-pilot was fired last December after she refused the airliner director's request to remove the scarf. "Return to your senses and leave this course, otherwise you will lose your job," the executive manager, Major General Helmi El-Sorouri, allegedly threatened. "The company has no place for veiled women," he told Samir, according to her version of the story.
Previously, Samir claims the operation's director, Zaher Georgi, forbade her to fly because of her scarf.
Mahmoud El-Serafi, Sharouq's board chairman, told Al-Ahram Weekly Samir was fired because she altered the uniform. "The staff must abide by the uniform without adding or removing any item. I have no objections to the veil. On the contrary, I am very happy for her," El-Serafi said. "But it's nonsense to apply just one principle of the Shari'a and ignore others. For example, the Shari'a forbids a woman to sit alone with a man in a closed room. So, religiously, how does Samir accept spending hours shut in a cabin with a male pilot as part of her daily job?"
Samir began her career in June 1999 and was quickly promoted to the position of "grade A" active co-pilot. Following her sacking in December she appealed immediately to the Labour Office. In February, the office referred her complaint to the Labour Court. "Still, I cannot believe what happened. But I am resolved to continue my appeal through legal channels until I win, regain my rights and return to my job," she said. "It does not matter how much time the case takes. The only thing I care about is going back to my job one day."
Even if she won the case, the airline director told the Weekly, Samir would not return to her original job. "The company will give her an administrative job," he said. Legal sources predict the court's verdict is unlikely to be announced within the year, .
Shorouq Airlines is an Egyptian joint company. EgyptAir owns 51 per cent of its shares and the remaining 49 per cent is owned by Kuwaiti Airlines. Legally, it is not a governmental venture and the Egyptian administration cannot interfere in the company's activities. Its role is limited to supervising the aviation regulations.
Local human rights groups believe the airline abused the personal liberties and the freedom of choice of its staff. Samir was grateful for the support, "I was touched by their reaction. I would like to thank them very much for taking my side and supporting my case, without even knowing me personally," she said.
Women's right to wear the higab has led to several recent court cases. In Alexandria, a school affiliated to the French consulate prevented a student from continuing her studies unless she removed her veil. The student filed a lawsuit and won.
At the American University in Cairo (AUC), a student was banned from entering the campus after she wore the niqab (the veil that leaves only the eyes showing). The Administrative Court verdict upheld the student's right. But AUC appealed to the Cairo Court of Urgent Affairs. A court order is expected to be issued on Saturday.
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