The Muslim News

CONSTAND BRAND, Brussels, Scottish Herald:

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ruled against a student who was banned from wearing a head- scarf by a Turkish university.

Leyla Sahin, a 31-year-old medical student, claimed rules banning the wearing of head scarves during class at Istanbul University, which she was attending in 1998, violated her rights of freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, a seven-judge panel at the court in Strasbourg, said it "found no violation" under the convention, adding schools were entitled to set dress codes as long as they were fair.

The court found the school's rules on banning headscarves in medical classes were "necessary", primarily for hygienic reasons.

It added that Sahin and other medical students "were required to comply with the rules on dress".

As a member of the 45-nation Council of Europe, Turkey is obliged to comply with the convention overseen by the European Court of Human Rights.
Human rights groups have criticised Turkey's tough restrictions on Islamic head- scarves. In a 46-page report released yesterday, Human Rights Watch said the Turkish ban "inhibits academic freedom", adding the government still exercises too much control over schools.

"The Turkish government has still not dispelled the coercion and self-censorship that pervade academic life," said Rachel Denber, acting executive director for Human Rights Watch in Europe.

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ruled against a student who was banned from wearing a head- scarf by a Turkish university.

Leyla Sahin, a 31-year-old medical student, claimed rules banning the wearing of head scarves during class at Istanbul University, which she was attending in 1998, violated her rights of freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, a seven-judge panel at the court in Strasbourg, said it "found no violation" under the convention, adding schools were entitled to set dress codes as long as they were fair.

The court found the school's rules on banning headscarves in medical classes were "necessary", primarily for hygienic reasons.

It added that Sahin and other medical students "were required to comply with the rules on dress".

As a member of the 45-nation Council of Europe, Turkey is obliged to comply with the convention overseen by the European Court of Human Rights.
Human rights groups have criticised Turkey's tough restrictions on Islamic head- scarves. In a 46-page report released yesterday, Human Rights Watch said the Turkish ban "inhibits academic freedom", adding the government still exercises too much control over schools.

"The Turkish government has still not dispelled the coercion and self-censorship that pervade academic life," said Rachel Denber, acting executive director for Human Rights Watch in Europe.

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ruled against a student who was banned from wearing a head- scarf by a Turkish university.

Leyla Sahin, a 31-year-old medical student, claimed rules banning the wearing of head scarves during class at Istanbul University, which she was attending in 1998, violated her rights of freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, a seven-judge panel at the court in Strasbourg, said it "found no violation" under the convention, adding schools were entitled to set dress codes as long as they were fair.

The court found the school's rules on banning headscarves in medical classes were "necessary", primarily for hygienic reasons.
It added that Sahin and other medical students "were required to comply with the rules on dress".

As a member of the 45-nation Council of Europe, Turkey is obliged to comply with the convention overseen by the European Court of Human Rights.
Human rights groups have criticised Turkey's tough restrictions on Islamic head- scarves. In a 46-page report released yesterday, Human Rights Watch said the Turkish ban "inhibits academic freedom", adding the government still exercises too much control over schools.

"The Turkish government has still not dispelled the coercion and self-censorship that pervade academic life," said Rachel Denber, acting executive director for Human Rights Watch in Europe.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/19067.html

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