:
7,27%
-1,66%
PRINT
Dispute over wearing hijab in Albanian schools
18. January 2011. | 07:33
Source: Tanjug
New law on education which will, according to the announcement, forbid wearing hijab in public schools, caused strong reaction of non-governmental organisations promoting religious freedoms.
New law on education which will, according to the announcement, forbid wearing hijab in public schools, caused strong reaction of non-governmental organisations promoting religious freedoms.
Albanian association of imams demands that restriction is not included into new law, as “hijab is a central issue of religious identity”, they point out.
“Hijab is more than a symbol for us. That is a religious obligation, and not matter of a choice”, Justinijan Topuli from the imam association says, and web portal “Balkan insight” reports. He points out that new law should not endanger expression of religious feelings in public places.
Albanian Ministry of Education does not accept these criticisms and say that wearing head covers will be forbidden in public schools.
Albanian Islamic Community also opposes this novelty in the bill. Several citizen associations promoting human rights announced they would submit amendments to the parliament before this new law is adopted.
After the fall of communist regime in 1992, which pursued believers, those bans were revoked. As in majority of former socialist countries, religion is “fashionable” in Albania, which is confirmed by the debate over this bill. According to some gross estimation, 3.3 million people in Albania are Muslim.
Comments (7)
Enter text:
18. January 2011. 08:03:18
| Ime
7
i am albanian muslim they should banned the hijab we are not arabs we are albanians relgion is albanian if you want too wear the hijab go live in iran or iraq or better yet go live in the dessert it does not belong on any albanian land banned the hijab period if you dont like it leave albania!and all albanian lands land of the eagle not land of the arabs
18. January 2011. 17:01:05
| Ime
2
I am Albanian and my religion is Albania. Hijabs should be banned from schools in Albania. I have nothing against religions but this is not Arabia.
18. January 2011. 17:01:05
| Ime
0
why call ureself muslim if u do not believe in what islam teaches!islam and hijab is not just for arabs and if u ban it u are discriminating against these people.before u say u are muslim learn about the religion because u are committing a big sin for preventing people from practising their religion.
18. January 2011. 19:54:56
| Ime
0
islam is not an arab religion and middle easterns only make up 20% or less of the 1.5 billion muslim population.Im albanian myself and my religion is not albanian thats my ethnicity.Hijabs should NOT be banned that is a religious duty.I read alot of stuff saying how albanians dont let religion interfere within albanians thats a complete lie.If thats the case how does albania which is huge majority muslim country allow hijabs to be banned.
19. January 2011. 07:18:41
| M
0
I'm one Albanian that could care less about religion. The Quran may say a lot of things, but the fact is, covering yourself in public is a quick way to "self-imposed" isolation...and consequently alienation from the society you live in.
I don't care that the intentions in the Quran may have been good on this point. As they say, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"... Just look at the Arab world today as an example...thankfully, Albanians are not Arabs. Let's keep it that way.
19. January 2011. 07:18:41
| Ime
0
I am an albanian and most of albanians are atheists like me.
please, jesus was the biggest lier in the world, Mohammed was a pedophile. He married a 11 year old as the fourth wife when he was 60 plus. Religion has teared Albania appart for centuries.. look at our neighbours.. Greece is ruled by the bloody Orthodox church, so is serbia.. Look at saudi arabia.. the worst country in the world.
People, u wanna believe in religion.. fine.. in your house.. not in public places. The church, Mosque and State are seperated, american style.
19. January 2011. 07:18:41
| Ime
0
This is a big issue in many places. Personally, I don't have a problem with the hijab. In the UK it is the burkha that is the problem. Most are against it.
I recall when I lived in Albania that few women wore the hijab. The reality is, as i understand it, the Koran does not demand the head covering, this is a cultural issue. As some have said above, you are Albanians not Arabs.
Another states that Albania is a muslim country. I know officially it is, but my experience is that few people would consider themselves to be Muslim, except if a feast was involved.
Most Albanians are aware that Islam was forced on them by the Ottomans and that they consider the country to be Christian.
In reality, the head covering is merely a sign of Islams oppression of women.