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Indonesian Ulema Council Condemns Hijab Ban in Tana Toraja School
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesian Ulema Council Condemns Hijab Ban in Tana Toraja School

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in South Sulawesi has spoken out against a school principal in Tana Toraja for prohibiting Muslim students from wearing the hijab.
  • MUI stated the ban violates human rights and religious freedom, emphasizing the hijab as a religious obligation for Muslim women.
  • The principal claimed the prohibition was a joke and has since apologized, though parents allege the ban has been in place for months and included threats.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in South Sulawesi has declared a school principal's ban on Muslim students wearing the hijab a violation of human rights. The principal of SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng in Tana Toraja reportedly prohibited female students from wearing the religious headscarf.

In Islam, the hijab is one of the obligations that must be worn by Muslim women. Therefore, the hijab is a human right for Muslim women. The party that prohibits the use of the hijab can actually be categorized as a violation of human rights.

— Muammar BakryThe Secretary General of MUI South Sulawesi explained the religious significance of the hijab and its status as a human right.

MUI Secretary-General Muammar Bakry asserted that freedom to practice religion is a constitutional right in Indonesia, applicable even in public schools. He stressed that the hijab is a religious obligation for Muslim women, not merely a clothing choice. "In Islam, the hijab is one of the obligations that must be worn by Muslim women. Therefore, the hijab is a human right for Muslim women," Muammar stated.

If a principal really prohibits their students from wearing the hijab, of course, that is not permissible. Especially since this is a public school.

— Muammar BakryMUI South Sulawesi's Secretary General commented on the principal's alleged actions at the public school.

Muammar argued that prohibiting the hijab is unjustifiable, especially in a public school that should guarantee the rights of all students regardless of religious background. "If a principal really prohibits their students from wearing the hijab, of course, that is not permissible. Especially since this is a public school," he said.

I didn't forbid it, I was just joking.

— NaomiThe principal of SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng claimed her prohibition was a joke when confronted.

The principal, identified as Naomi, initially claimed the prohibition was a joke and had apologized to parents. However, parents of the students allege the ban has been ongoing for several months. They reported that on July 27, seven students wearing hijabs were reprimanded. According to one parent, the principal stated the school was public, not a madrasah, and allegedly threatened students with exclusion from extracurricular activities or expulsion if they continued to wear the hijab.

This is a public school, not a madrasah.

— NaomiAccording to parents, the principal made this statement when reprimanding students wearing hijabs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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