CAIRO: A court verdict has rescinded the Minister of Higher Education's decision to ban students wearing the niqab from entering examination halls to sit for their exams. Last week, students at Cairo University filed a lawsuit against the university's administration for banning students wearing the niqab from taking their exams, unless they remove the face cover inside the hall. In its ruling, the court said the minister's decision violates the constitution that calls for freedom of religion. Cairo University has seen protests by hundreds of students last week after three students wearing the niqab claimed the university president ignored their pleas to sit for their exams, even though they volunteered to reveal their faces to a female staff member before entering the examination hall. More students protested Sunday on campus against the overall restrictions against freedom of expression in Egypt. The protestors cited the university's decision against students wearing the niqab, saying it robs them of their basic rights. A number of students claimed that the dean of the school of science, along with deans of other schools, plan on appealing the court's decision. On Sunday, Minister of Higher Education Hani Helal went to Cairo University to speak with the protestors about their demands. However, some students claim he did not listen to their demands and only communicated his point of view. The minister stressed that the girls are allowed to wear the niqab on campus, but not inside examination halls. He cited several cases where students were caught using the niqab to cheat. Some students said they were offended when the minister said that it is difficult to tell if the girls in niqab are actually girls, not men in disguise. Despite the court's decision, some girls were reportedly still denied entry inside the examination halls.
