Hong Kong: Christian School Drops Hijab Ban
By UCA News
Four Muslim girls are now allowed to wear their hijab at a Hong Kong Christian school after complaining of being penalized for doing so.
The girls had been sent to Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School’s discipline room for a week for wearing their traditional Muslim head veil. The school is run by “The Bread of Life Christian Church” which is an independent church founded in Shanghai in 1943.
A day after their situation was covered by local media outlet Mingpao on Sept. 17 the girls were permitted to attend classes while wearing their hijab.
Sulaim, who is Pakistani, told local press that the school discipline teacher told them that because it is a Christian school they were not allowed to wear headscarves. If they want to attend class, they had to take off their headscarves.
Sulaim’s father told the press: “We respect the religion of the school. But the school does not respect our religion.”
One of the parents filed a complaint with Hong Kong’s Education Bureau who replied saying the school was discriminating against their children.
An estimated 180,000 Muslims live in Hong Kong.
