Nearly 300 male students at Al-Azhar University angrily protested against what they considered to be anti-veil remarks made by Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni. Chanting slogans such as, "The veil is a religious obligation, and holding signs reading, "No women at work without veil, the students insisted the hijab headscarf is a symbol of a woman s purity and modesty. There were no women present in the protest. The Ministry of Culture is calling for rights of homosexuals and other such groups. What kind of person do you need to be and what sort of awkward activities do you need to participate in order to be favored by the ministry? one of the university spokespersons Ahmed Abdul-Rahman stressed. The minister of culture needs to respect Islam. He himself should wear a veil or cover up in a niqab while walking the streets, Abdul-Rahman added. Hosni has received harsh criticism by religious groups after referring to the veil, known as the hijab, as a symbol of backwardness and arguing that women with their beautiful hair are like flowers and should not be covered up in an interview last week. Women should cover their hair when they walk on the streets and while they are at work just like you do. That is what Islam says, one student told The Daily Star Egypt reporter while pointing at the veil she had to wear in order to access the demonstration. "Farouk Hosni s recent remarks about the hijab headscarf are an insult to the entire student body of Al-Azhar University. I urge you as students of this institution to start a revolution and do something about this. You have been disrespected, Abdul-Rahman emphasized. Meanwhile, Hosni, who had demanded Parliament refrain from making personal attacks against him and said his remarks were misrepresented, returned to regular duties at the culture ministry Saturday for the first time since the controversy erupted.
