Legal Commentary

No Full-Face Veils in Egyptian University Exams

By Eugene Volokh

From Reuters:

A Cairo court ruled on Sunday in favour of the Egyptian government?s decision to ban female students wearing the niqab, or full face veil, in university examinations....

The government said it brought in the ban in part because students, male and female, were sitting exams disguised as other candidates by wearing a face veil....

In 2007, a court ruled that the American University in Cairo, seen as a bastion of Western liberal education in Egypt, was wrong to bar a female scholar who wears the niqab from using its facilities. The court cited personal and religious freedom as grounds for its ruling....

Thanks to Religion Clause for the pointer.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on January 04, 2010 (boomark / email).