Prayut wants 'hijab' issue handled with care

[webfact]

Prayut wants 'hijab' issue handled with care
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he had instructed the Education Ministry to solve the problem of Muslim students wearing the hijab or headscarves after a state school issued an order banning it.

The issue came into the spotlight after the Wat Nong Chok school in Bangkok's Nong Chok district rejected a request from 17 female Muslim students for permission to wear a headscarf to school.

The school's director Prapon Leesin said the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) had resolved last month not to allow the wearing of headscarves in schools that are situated inside Buddhist temples and that his school had clear rules on uniforms.

He added that the students had 30 days to appeal against the decision, but they had not done so and that there was no religious dispute over the issue.

However, according to Sod Daengied, director-general of the Religion Department, there are no regulations obliging Buddhist |temples to prohibit people from other religions, regardless of what they |are wearing, from entering their facilities.

Meanwhile, Prayut said he had instructed state schools in the deep South, where the vast majority of the population is Muslim, to handle the issue with care.

"We want to see the South become the centre for Islamic culture of Thailand where people could express their identity freely," he said, though he added that the issue of Islamic attire should also be considered from the security aspect.

"Sometime insurgents wear headscarves to disguise themselves, which creates problems for officials. So please understand this problem."

Prayut added that he would have a consultation session with the Education Ministry and the Internal Security Operations Command to find a way to synchronise security and the expression of identity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prayut-wants-hijab-issue-handled-with-care-30258389.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-21

[Somtamnication]

A minefield, if I have ever seen one.

[Your Thainess]

Disgraceful prejudice and bigotry.

Do the Buddhists in Thailand truly understand their own faith? I think rather not. Gautama Buddha taught us to improve ourselves, not police others' behavior.

[englishoak]

I think Prayut should handle it personally, all sensitive like he normally is.

[lemonjelly]

I can't believe that OBEC made this statement for headscarves or are they referring to the face covers?

Edited April 21, 2015 by lemonjelly

[NickJ]

Everywhere there are proplems is the world it seems about 85% of them involve to some degree a muslim issue......I would bet an average person would find it impossible to make it through one day without being bothered by it.

[arrowsdawdle]

Disgraceful prejudice and bigotry.

Do the Buddhists in Thailand truly understand their own faith? I think rather not. Gautama Buddha taught us to improve ourselves, not police others' behavior.

He who turns the other cheek gets hit with the other fist.

[lemonjelly]

Everywhere there are proplems is the world it seems about 85% of them involve to some degree a muslim issue......I would bet an average person would find it impossible to make it through one day without being bothered by it.

85% of your problems are Islam related?

Are you a Jehovah's Witness knocking on doors in Tikrit or something?

[uptheos]

They look cute in headscarves, but full face veils absolutely not!!

[Estrada]

They look cute in headscarves, but full face veils absolutely not!!

I was trying to post a letter one night when I realised that I was poking a muslim woman in the eye. Damn if I know how she got in the letter box.

[sharpjwe]

we are all born NAKED.

stop all cloth covers

no religious signs in public is the best

Bag the ugly

[JockPieandBeans]

I can't believe that OBEC made this statement for headscarves or are they referring to the face covers?

Therein lies the problem

This is referred to as both a Burqa or a Hajib.

Personally I have no problem with anyone wearing a headscarf. If a face covering is deemed unacceptable for some to wear, then it is unacceptable for anyone to wear.

If a school or anywhere else has a dress policy that you do not agree with. Go somewhere else.

[DTiger]

I'd love someone to explain how a public school, supposedly not confessional one could be built/made/created inside a temple/church/mosque ?

[andrewrooney]

A hijab doesn't cover the face. I don't see how that can be seen as a security issue.

If this is a state run school (in a Muslim majority area, nonetheless) there's no reason they shouldn't be able to wear a hijab. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

[mike324]

"Sometime insurgents wear headscarves to disguise themselves, which creates problems for officials. So please understand this problem."

Won't that make insurgents easier to detect then? I know its a slippery slope saying people who wear head scarfs are automatically put on alert as being an insurgent. But its not as if the police recognize every insurgents face if they don't hear a head scarf too. So that is a poor excuse of banning head scarfs.

[dragonfly94]

If it's so important to them how come they have managed to survive without wearing rags on their head to School up until now? Just looks like more creeping islamisation. It is not required by their religion and is just a sign of division and a way to distance themselves from everyone else- look at us we are Muslims!

[monkeycountry]

A hijab doesn't cover the face. I don't see how that can be seen as a security issue.

If this is a state run school (in a Muslim majority area, nonetheless) there's no reason they shouldn't be able to wear a hijab. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

As long as all the other students can also wear whatever they like on their head. A turban, a tall hat, a bandana, a motorbike helmet (with visible face) or whatever pleases them.

[NeilSA1]

France made a bold decision and made it law, with the following provisions-

" In 2010, the French Parliament voted to ban the wearing of clothing that conceals the face in public places, becoming the first European country to restrict a custom that some Muslims consider a religious obligation. The so-called burqa bill — which also bans the wearing of masks, balaclavas and niqabs, which cover the face — went into effect in 2011 and does not forbid the wearing of the hijab, or head scarf... (specifically)."

[Srikcir]

I can't believe that OBEC made this statement for headscarves or are they referring to the face covers?

Both are banned

[Srikcir]

A hijab doesn't cover the face. I don't see how that can be seen as a security issue.

If this is a state run school (in a Muslim majority area, nonetheless) there's no reason they shouldn't be able to wear a hijab. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

As long as all the other students can also wear whatever they like on their head. A turban, a tall hat, a bandana, a motorbike helmet (with visible face) or whatever pleases them.

This would be fun to wear and keep cool also:

Edited April 21, 2015 by Srikcir

[ratcatcher]

For those unsure of what hijabs and burqas are, this may help. The third link is less fashionable.

https://www.google.com/search?q=hijab&biw=1016&bih=606&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Lc01VYW0K6LamAWj-4DQDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=hijab&biw=1016&bih=606&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Lc01VYW0K6LamAWj-4DQDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=burqa

https://www.google.com/search?q=bank+robber+headgear&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ucw1VffDPOe4mAWF3oCAAg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=1016&bih=606#imgrc=Qw9XimijR0g6bM%253A%3BFHDlDfvt_RD2gM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages.rapgenius.com%252F0383569332845e925823ee39a58c1656.500x749x1.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fgenius.com%252F2167816%252FThe-1975-robbers%252FHer-balaclava-is-starting-to-chafe%3B500%3B749

[DTiger]

.. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

This is exactly why it's called an issue Anyone can wear those hijabs but students!!!

[ChrisY1]

There will be a new legislation soon that Burqa should be worn by all young female tourists and bar girls......!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[dragonfly94]

.. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

This is exactly why it's called an issue Anyone can wear those hijabs but students!!!

Quite right too, religion should be kept out of education, that goes for Buddhism as well.

Edited April 21, 2015 by dragonfly94

[LuckyLew]

Nothing like giving the south more foder for the fire

[HerbalEd]

It's stupid and serves no purpose to ban head scarfs. However, veils masking the face is a whole other story, so, given these terrorist times, I think these should be banned.

What about sikhs wearing turbans?

[Docno]

Issue not unique to Thailand. As others have mentioned, France has some restrictions on the wearing of head-scarves and veils. Students and nurses in Singapore are not allowed to wear the tudung or hijab either, and this is a country with a Muslim population of about 15%. If they want to be fair about it, maybe they should also ban students from wearing Buddhist amulets or Christian crosses. In fact, ban religion altogether and we may make some real progress

[JockPieandBeans]

It's stupid and serves no purpose to ban head scarfs. However, veils masking the face is a whole other story, so, given these terrorist times, I think these should be banned.

What about sikhs wearing turbans?

What is a Turban ? It is a type of headscarf that you say serves no purpose to ban.

[NoshowJones]

If the Muslims don't like Thailands or any non Muslim countries rules, then let them leave.

[NoshowJones]

A hijab doesn't cover the face. I don't see how that can be seen as a security issue.

If this is a state run school (in a Muslim majority area, nonetheless) there's no reason they shouldn't be able to wear a hijab. The fact that the school is on temple grounds is a non-issue, I see muslims wearing hijabs selling food etc. in markets on temple grounds all the time.

If they want to live in a certain country, then they obey that countrys laws or get out.

Try living in a Muslim country and don't obey their laws and see what happens.