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School Girls In Gaza Must Wear Traditional Arab Dress

By Howard M. Friedman

Both Haaretz and YNet News report today that authorities in the Gaza Strip are insisting that girls in government-run schools wear traditional Arab clothing to class. Girls not wearing the ghalabia (in dark blue) and a white head covering will be sent home. This continues a trend toward imposing Islamic norms in Gaza (see prior posting), though one official said that the move was aimed at easing parents' financial situation. Authorities also will only allow women to teach at girls' schools and men to teach at boys' schools. Some 250,000 students attend government schools, while 200,000 attend United Nations run schools. [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 24, 2009 (boomark / email).