KHUJAND, September 24, 2008, Asia-Plus — A press conference with participation of representatives of media, OSCE Office and parents of girls, who are not allowed to wear hijab (Islamic-style head scarf) to school, was held in office of the regional organization of the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) for Sughd in Khujand on September 23.
Ms. Hofiza Sodiqova, activist of the IRPT organization in Sughd, noted that parents of 15 schoolgirls, three from Khujand and twelve from the Bobojonghafurov district, had applied to them since September 15, having complained that school administrations do not allow their daughters to wear hijab to school.
“Thereby, school administrations violate Article 6 of the country’s law “On Education,” Ms. Sodiqova said, noting that the parents intend to apply to the regional prosecutor’s office over violation of rights of their daughters, who want to be educated but are not allowed to attend school in the Islamic head scarves.
In the meantime, speaking at the press conference, Ms. Dilbar Ismoilova, deputy head of the Sughd education directorate, noted that under the statute on the school uniform adopted on July 3, 2007, school students should attend schools in school uniform only.
