CAIRO: The Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court supported the prohibition of three university students wearing niqab - the full face veil - from attending exams. On Sunday, the court refused an appeal by 55 students wearing the niqab against a previous ruling that upheld the ban. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hani Helal said that Egypt's public universities do not ban students wearing the niqab from entering the university or from sitting for their exams, explaining that the decision only bans them from wearing the niqab inside the dorms and examination halls. "We have uncovered many security violations because of the niqab and noticed that the number of students wearing it during exams increases. There are people who take advantage of this outfit, Helal reportedly said. A previous court ruling had rescinded a decree by the President of Cairo University banning niqab-clad students from attending exams on the basis that it violates the constitution which upholds for freedom of religion. Cairo University witnessed protests by hundreds of students when three wearing the niqab claimed the university president ignored their please to attend exams, even though they volunteered to show their faces to a female staff member before entering the examination hall. The Supreme Administrative Court had overturned on Dec. 21 a decree by the President of Ain Shams University banning students wearing niqab from entering the dorms, citing their right to public housing. The debate over niqab was triggered when Al-Azhar's Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, who first banned the niqab in all-female classrooms at Al Azhar universities and schools. The moves have angered many women who say they cover up voluntarily out of religious conviction, as well as human rights activists who believe that this is tantamount to discrimination.
