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Issue 247, Friday 27 November 2009 - 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1430

Burnley College bans niqab wearing teen

By Elham Asaad Buaras

A college student has criticized Burnley College bosses after a row over her niqab. Shawana Bilqes, 18, said she was told by a staff member at she must remove her niqab as she attempted to enrol on a higher education course.

Bilqes, who lives in Stoneyholme, Burnley, said, “I had been to enrolment events at the college a few times already, but then I was at the desk and a female staff member approached me from nowhere and told me I could not wear the veil. She went on and on about it, and she was being very harsh.

“I was shocked at the way she spoke to me and I just felt completely humiliated.”

Bilqes said she was willing to compromise by removing the niqab for an ID picture and during lessons, but wanted to keep it on elsewhere in college grounds.

However, the incident has led the teenager to abandon plans to enrol on the course.

“They asked me if I would remove my veil for an ID picture and, of course, I would. But I just wanted the staff member who spoke to me like that to respect my beliefs. I feel traumatised by the whole experience, and deprived of education,” Bilqes said.

In a statement to The Muslim News a spokesman for Burnley College said they are enforcing the policy on the grounds of teaching standards and security.

The spokesman said, “Unimpeded communication from the teacher to all students, from the students to the teacher,” is crucial.

He said that the College was “committed to maintain a fully inclusive College where students from all backgrounds integrate to the fullest possible extent. This is essential to maintain a healthy College community. The basis of this inclusive and integrated community, where all play their part, is full communication. This is not possible where individuals cover their faces and in this way separate themselves from the College community.”

On the issue of security Burnley College said, “The College community should be identifiable at all times when in the College. To this end we require students and staff to wear a security card which displays their photograph.”

In a statement to The Muslim News, Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS), spokesman, Qassim Rafiq, said the decision by Burnley College will set “a dangerous precedent” for other faiths.

FOSIS also criticised the College’s handling of the incident. “We are also extremely concerned at the manner in which the situation has been handled….Bilqes was publicly confronted,” said Rafiq.

“It was also the case that Bilqes attended the college a number of times prior to enrolment and at no point was she informed of the College’s policy on the veil. We believe that the decision not to inform her until enrolment day has caused undue stress and inconvenience towards Bilqes who could have applied elsewhere, but instead remains stranded and unable to complete her studies.”

Rafiq said that Bilqes “sought to compromise with the school on a number of occasions including removing the veil in the class and upon request by a female member of staff, thereby alleviating the College’s concerns of security and hindrance to communication, however we understand that these compromises were refused.”