2009-02-12 The Local: Muslim woman sues college over veil ban

[rähmis]

A Stockholm woman has reported an adult education college in Spånga to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) after being told that she could not wear an Islamic headscarf in class.

The woman was told on January 15th that she was no longer welcome at Västerort Vuxengymnasium, an adult education college in Spånga, if she persisted in wearing her niqab. The niqab is part of a hijab headress and covers the entire face except for the eyes.

The woman has now reported the matter to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) alleging discrimination.

In her report to DO dated January 20th, the woman alleges that she was told that she could not wear her niqab in class or in contact with the school's staff.

The woman explains that the school justified its decision by referring to a recent decision by the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) which banned the wearing of some Muslim headscarves in class.

"But this is just a ruling, it is not a law and the ruling concerns those who wear a burqa, covering the whole face. I have a niqab which shows the area around the eyes," the woman argued.

The woman writes that she finds it "offensive" to be expelled for her "personal style" and argues that the ruling is confusing as some schools permit the niqab.

But the college's rector, Britt-Marie Johansson, has defended the school's right to exclude the student from classes, referring to the education agency's ruling.

"At Västerorts vux it is not allowed in the classroom to cover one's face, with a veil or similar. This rule also applies in contact with staff. This means that neither a niqab nor a burqa can be worn."

The Local

V*ttu mitä rasisteja. Muualla Ruotsissa

Sabuni offers to meet with Rosengård youth

Sweden's integration minister Nyamko Sabuni wants to visit the homes of young people from the predominantly immigrant suburb of Rosengård in Malmö.

Sabuni is planning a visit to the neighbourhood on Wednesday next week in the wake of the so-called Rosengård report prepared for her ministry by Sweden's National Defence College (Försvarshögskolan), the Sydsvenskan newspaper reports.

The study, which sparked a great deal of criticism and debate, found that Rosengård was becoming more radicalized.

Sabuni has also come under fire for some of her recent statements about the neighbourhood following the report.

"In Rosengård there is a lot of passivity and introversion, and not least of all the sort which was highlighted in this report presented by the Defence College, with thought control and so on," she said last Monday, according to Sydsvenskan.

In her letter to students, Sabuni referenced disturbances which rocked the area in December and admitted that the situation for many in Rosengård could be improved.

She said she wanted to "discuss how it is to live in Rosengård, what you like, and what you think can be improved."

The Local

[ibn ghul]

Siinä vaiheessa kun tuollainen muuttuu yleisesti hyväksyttäväksi käytännöksi, alan asioida joka paikassa pukeutuneena tonttulakkiin, ninjanaamioon ja lannevaatteeseen ja vaadin samoja etuuksia samoin perustein.

[Veli Karimies]

Eli muslimi valittaa tasa-arvovaltuustolle koska ei saa erikoiskohtelua? Millä järjellä...

[rähmis]

En tohdi uutta ketjua avata, joten tässä lisää juttua muotivermeistä länsinaapurissa.

Swedish town debates ban on 'racist' clothing

A youth recreation centre in Bromölla in southern Sweden has decided to ban anyone wearing clothing that could be considered racist from entering the facility.

"You can't have any sort of symbol, no boots, suspenders, or bomber jackets," said recreation activity leaders Jenny Ahlgren-Bleckert to Sveriges Radio (SR).

She added however, that people who fail to abide by the rules would be allowed to enter the facility, provided they went home and changed clothes first.

Earlier in the week, a parent complained about the differing policies in place at the nearby Humleskolan secondary school and the recreation centre.

"At least one student is going around in clothing which clearly shows his racist opinions and, despite the fact that other students have taken the matter up on several occasions, it appears no one from the school's leadership cares," wrote one parent in a letter to the Kristianstadsbladet newspaper.

School principal Sven Håkansson tells the newspaper that the school has a policy against expressions of racism.

Symbols, logos, and slogans on hats and t-shirts with racist messages are not tolerated.

Clothing and hairstyles, however, constitute something of a grey area.

"At Humleskolan, we can't stop anyone from having a shaved head or boots," Håkansson told SR.

But Åke Eliasson, a Social Democratic politician in the local children and youth committee, thinks it's odd that there are different rules at the school and the youth centre, and wants the matter to be reviewed further.

He added that combating racism is important for the community and that it's not just about clothing, but about changing the attitudes of students with anti-democratic opinions.

The Local