Egyptian Universities Set To Ban The Full Face Veil For Female Professors

I truly have no idea what appeal the niqab has on Muslim females, at least for those women who choose to wear the full-face veil as opposed to being forced to don one. I can't imagine it's very comfortable to sport a tent over your body that covers everything other than your eyes. It must be suffocating under all that blackness, especially in the summer heat. I get claustrophobic just thinking about it, but if they're stupid enough to cover their whole body with material they deserve all the health issues that come with not getting enough Vitamin D from the sun.

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Bu there are some countries in the Middle East trying to educate the women by banning the niqab and burqa in certain venues, like Universities in Egypt. Last year, female students were told they could not wear the niqab during exams, although that was more to prevent cheating than concern for their health. Now several universities are also banning the niqab for teaching professors.

The Cairo-based Ain Shams University and Fayoum University southwest of Cairo announced that female professors wearing the face veil, also called the ‘niqab,’ will not be allowed into the classroom unless they show their faces.

Dr. Maged el-Deeb, President of Ain Shams University, denied allegations that the ban is a reflection of the persecution from which veiled professors suffer.

“Fully veiled professors are not going to be banned from working at the university,” he told Al Arabiya. “They will only not be allowed to teach.”

Deeb added that professors wearing the niqab will be involved in administrative work like proctoring during the exams.

“They also have the right to do research and any other academic activities with the support of the university.”

Of course, it could be challenged as was the ban on students taking exams, since the decree has yet to be authorized by the powers that be: the University Council and the Higher Council of Universities. But even though they have not yet received the go-ahead, they will institute the ban as of of now.

“We want the professors to get used to the new situation from now so it won’t be shocking when the decision comes out officially.”

Fayoum University president Dr. Ahmed al-Gohary agreed with the professors’ view regarding the face veil being personal freedom, yet objected to imposing it on the students.

“The face veil hinders contact between the professor and the students,” he told Al Arabiya. “In this case, it no longer becomes a personal freedom since the professor imposes it in the classroom and violates the rights of her students.”

Gohary added that students do not feel comfortable when they are taught by a face-veiled professor.

“They are just not that outspoken about it.”

It would drive me crazy to have to spend an hour or two in a lecture without being able to see the face of the professor, let alone having to decipher the muffled speech. Eye contact is of utmost importance in human interaction.

Of course, there are those who jump on the whole violation of personal freedom bandwagon claiming that these women should be able to wear a veil. And I say, sure, when they are on their own. And of course, there are those trying to turn the table on the University presidents for making those decisions to ban the veil.

Lawyer Nizar Ghorab, who defended face-veiled students banned from entering the campus, said applying the ban on professors is a similar violation of personal freedoms.

“In addition, such bans inflict substantial financial and moral damages on the professors,” he told Al Arabiya. “That is why university presidents who imposed these ban have to be prosecuted and dismissed.”

The controversy about the niqab on campus started last year when face-veiled students were banned from sitting for the exams. Students went to court and the ruling came in their favor, yet not all universities abided by the court’s decision.

And al-Gohary is absolutely right, what about the rights of the students being violated by having to stare at a veiled professor? Maybe they should just create all-female universities, with all female professors who can wear the niqab to their hearts content and let everyone else live like real human beings.