KHUJAND, October 15, 2008, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday October 14, senior representatives of political parties, functioning in the Sughd province, as well representatives of local NGOs, education directorate, the OSCE field office and media held a meeting in Khujand to discuss issues related to problems facing hijab-wearing schoolgirls.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Hofiza Sodiqova, activist of the Islamic Revival Party’s (IRPT) organization in Sughd, noted that this subject is topical for the province. Schoolgirls are not allowed to wear hijab/satr (Islamic-style head scarf) to school.
According to her, they have received many applications from parents of schoolgirls, who have complained that school administrations do not allow their daughters to wear hijab to school.
Ms. Sodiqova noted that thereby, school administrations violate Article 26 of the country’s law “On Education.”
Because of the ban on wearing hijab to school, some parents want their daughters to go to separate schools or madrasah, she said.
“Last year, parents of hijab-wearing schoolgirls applied to the Khujand prosecutor’s office but prosecutors failed to resolve the problem,” said the IRPT activists, “Therefore, they now do not trust the prosecutor’s office.”
In the meantime, head of the organization of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT) for Khujand Muhammad Isomaddinov pointed to the necessity of observing the statute on the school uniform adopted on July 3, 2007. Under this statue, school students should attend schools in school uniform only.
The meeting participants came to an agreement to apply to the Ministry of Education with solicitation to review types of school uniform to make it acceptable for all children.
