Non-Muslim staff told to wear headscarves in Adelaide

13 Feb 2013, 6:03 pm   -   Source: Karen Ashford, SBS
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An Islamic College in Adelaide has threatened to dismiss its non-Muslim female staff if they don't wear headscarves, as critics say it's wrong to compel women to identify with a religion they don't practice.

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An Adelaide school's dress policy has exposed a grey area in Australia's discrimination laws.

The Adelaide Islamic College has long had an unwritten rule that female staff would wear hijab or if they weren't Muslim, headscarves.

The last principal had relaxed that rule. Now the board has reinforced the dress code policy in writing.

The school has been told by its lawyers not to comment. SBS understands one staffer was warned of dismissal if she didn't abide by the new code.

The union says this is plainly wrong.

"People who've been employed at that school for many years have been able to dress modestly without any particular problem, but this redefining under the threat of sacking is quite extreme and we don't agree with it", says Glen Seidel from the Independent Education Union.

"People who have been quite openly employed as not Muslim are being forced to identify within the community as if they are," added Mr Seidel. "There has to be a more sensible way of getting the modesty requirement sorted without the religious identity".

Minister for Education and Multicultural Affairs Jennifer Rankin says this situation highlights a grey area in the legislation.

"Our ambulance officers wear uniforms, our nurses wear uniforms, this is slightly different as in this is a religious school and obviously they have standards they want upheld, so it's an unusual circumstance where we've got a situation allegedly where someone is being asked to wear hijab rather than remove the hijab".

"Whether it's the equal opportunity act in terms of discrimination or the Fair Work Act, I think it's premature to say," said Ms Rankin. "I think it could be a test case in one or two jurisdictions and yet to be clear about which or both".

There are also implications for the school's funding.

"We provide them with something like 23 per cent of their funding, and in that contract obviously it is an obligation to abide by the laws of South Australia," said Minister Rankin.

The school is facing a tricky task, balancing its religious ideals with the individual's right to choose what, if any, religious identity they display.

Anti-discrimination Laws

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Relax.......

Joseph - from Homebush, 2 months ago

Guys, chill out! Almost every single workplace requires you to wear their uniform and to uphold their dress code and this one is no different - regardless of the fact that it's a Muslim school. Besides, the teacher only has to wear it when she's in the school but she's free to take it off when she finishes work. Let's just get on with our lives. And by the way, some of the above comments are quite uncivilised, abusive and racist. Let's all be objective here fellas.

Mr.

Eddie Ross - from Sydney, 2 months ago

Cut their funding! BTW what are they teaching their students about 9/11 and tolerance of other religions? Is anybody from the SA government policing this?

Extremely offended!

Mary - from Perth, 2 months ago

Honestly? Australia is not a Muslim country. This is insulting, offensive, discriminating & callous. My children go to a Christian school & it's female Muslim staff members freely wear their Hijab. Our children live in a diverse multi cultural country, & regardless of colouring, ethnicity & religious differences, teaching our children the beauty of these differences, acceptance of each other & that we are one & the same, is socially important. Religious radicals don't belong in Australia.

Hijab is an option

Frank - from Avoca, 2 months ago

My understanding from muslim friends is that the Hijab or head scarf is a personal choice and they cannot be forced to wear it, though it is "recommended"

Easy fixed...

Chris - from Hobart, 3 months ago

Very simple way to fix this...do what the french did and ban the head dress altogether either in public, the work place or in the home.....simple...maybe then they would think twice about coming here in the first place and their women could even end up with some say in the relationship...

Do exactly the same as they do in their own country to others

Willy - from Qld, 3 months ago

I do not really know if it is worthy to comment on this. Australian is opening their arms as a "good country" to the people who eventually will destroy for ever their way of life. Thanks to politicians and "some media" who wants you to believe that everything is good in the name of something called "Open Multicultural Society" no matter the sort of values you practice and what you believe. Even those who put a price to your head because you disagreed or criticize them are welcome here. Sad.

Ronald

Ronald Martens - from Perth Morley , 3 months ago

I think this school has absolutely no right to enforce that law in this Country. What ever they do in their Country and suppress women we cant change. Nor should they change our way of life. If Australia does not watch out it may become law for every women to wear head scarfs otherwise their hand will be chopped off. These are barbaric religious practises that should not be tolerated in this Country. At least with the bible there is the new testament. But you cannot change Islam.

no absolute right

barry - from burwood, 3 months ago

Its a religious private school and has a right to expect an Islamic dress code apply. Other private schools demand a dress code of their employees. Issue is if the school holds out their hand and takes taxpayer funds, which it does, then it must accept that it does not have an absolute right to make religious demands on its employees.

It's elementary

Dante Crisante - from Strathfield, 3 months ago

I believe this should be resolved according to the conditions listed in the 'Letter of Employment' where such restrictions and requirements have to be listed. In the absence of a specific requirements in the initial 'Letter of Employment' the school will need to demonstrate that the need to wear headscarves was not foreseen and it is essential for the conduct of employment tasks. Unless the school can do that they don't have a leg to stand on.

Anti discrimination?

Mark - from Hornsby, 3 months ago

Muslim schools have courtesy to employ non-Muslim, I don't see discrimination. How many catholic or Christian school you can name that employ Muslims. Judge yourself! Christians, catholic, Hindus and buddist are enjoying sense of religious freedom and support from Muslim nations. Do own research before jump onto blog. Some of these comments above are offensive and posted by so called 'civilized people'. How many of you stand up for the religious rights of Muslims in French when hizab was banned

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