Egypt's top cleric plans face veil ban in schools

[ccharles000]

CAIRO — Egypt's top Islamic cleric is planning to ban students wearing the face veil from entering the schools of al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's premier institute of learning, according to an independent daily Monday.

A security official also told The Associated Press that police have standing verbal orders to bar girls covered from head to toe from entering al-Azhar's institutions, including middle and high schools, as well as the dormitories of several universities in Cairo.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak to the press, said the ban was for security reasons.

The moves appear to be part of a government campaign cracking down on increasingly overt manifestations of ultraconservative Islam in Egypt.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gEpCqGB1apmy7fj_k0ARdkEdw06gD9B554IO0

[virgogal]

1. I'll be damned.

[AllentownJake]

2. That is good news

It appears some of the religious leaders are becoming aware of what fundamentalism brings.

[RKP5637]

3. Makes excellent sense.

[Ian David]

4. Crap. There goes my plan to cheat on the Egyptian MCAS. n/t

[Odin2005]

5. Good!

[Bobbieo]

6. As usual, the reform will come from within the system.

[ccharles000]

7. kick

[JVS]

8. Is this expected to cause people to stop wearing the veil or have them stop getting educated?