The principal of a high school
in the north-eastern Italian town of Cervignano del Friuli has
banned the Islamic veil for students "to avoid racism and
provocation", local newspaper Messaggero Veneto reported on
Monday.
Aldo Durì, principal of the "Malignani" institute near
Udine, issued on February 11 a document forbidding female Muslim
students from wearing the veil in school, although the news only
emerged on Monday.
In the document, Durì wrote that "since jihadists from ISIS
have unleashed, with the brutality of their attacks, a 'total
war' against the West, Shiites, all kinds of 'infidels',
including moderate Sunnis, pursuing the crazy idea to restore an
Islamic caliphate, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiments have
spread among our students".
The principal noted that the school includes a numerous
Arab community.
Recalling a recent attack by an Italian student against an
Egyptian classmate, Durì stressed that "religious wars don't
exist and must not exist in schools".
Durì noted that Italian schools are secular and
"indifferent to the religion of students and their families" and
that the "ostentation and exhibition, especially if imposed, of
exterior signs of a religious confession can be taken as
provocation and spark reactions of ostracism, disparagement or
rejection".
Durì also told ANSA that schools should not be a place to
demonstrate ideologies, as well as political and religious
ideas.
"The Islamic veil is only an example", he said.
While stressing that he wants to persuade students to stop
wearing the veil in class through dialogue "without
dramatization", the principal also called for legislation
"banning all religious symbols from schools", including those of
Italy's Catholic majority, as most classrooms in public schools
have a crucifix on the wall.
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