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Bar-Ilan University in Israel just dropped the hammer on a student who decided to show up on campus wearing a niqab, the full-body-and-face covering some Muslim women wear, leaving only the eyes visible. The university’s not having it, citing a policy that demands faces stay visible for “pedagogical, security, and administrative” reasons. In other words, jihadi dudes have been known to dress this way to hide their identity, and several terrorists have been known to escape capture. For example, while it's an unverified claim, Yahya Sinwar evaded capture by wearing a burqa.
Apparently, this Arab Israeli student was fine with the rules at first but recently decided to go full niqab, prompting the school to bar her from campus.
The student’s response? She called the policy “persecution,” insisting she has the right to wear whatever she wants and that everyone else needs to “respect her choice.” If that's the case, then wouldn't she have the right to wear only her 'birthday suit?' I don't think so.
The university laid out its case in a letter from Professor Amnon Albeck, the rector, who didn’t mince words: “I received your request to wear the niqab in classes and around campus. I understand that you are doing so now, despite the fact that at the beginning of the year, after a discussion on the subject with Mr. Rafaat Sweidan, academic adviser for Arab society, it was made clear to you that this is not acceptable on campus.” Translation: You knew the deal, and you’re breaking it.
Bar-Ilan’s not banning religious expression entirely—hijabs, the headscarves many Muslim women wear, are fine. But the niqab, with its near-total face coverage, crosses a line. The university’s statement to JNS doubled down: “Bar-Ilan University respects every individual, including their right to observe their religion and customs, and extends this respect to all students. However, in accordance with university policy, all students are required to keep their faces visible while on campus—during classes, in open areas and as part of academic activities.” They added that the rule was explained upfront, and the student complied for months before switching gears.
Why the hard line? The university says it’s about “open interaction, personal identification, and the safety of all students.” It makes sense. Just try running a classroom or ensuring campus security when you can’t tell who’s who. This isn’t France, where they’ve banned niqabs in public and religious symbols in schools altogether, citing their secular utopia.
Still, the student’s cry of “persecution” raises eyebrows. Is it persecution to enforce a rule everyone’s expected to follow, or is this a case of someone demanding special treatment under the guise of rights?
The student’s response? She called the policy “persecution,” insisting she has the right to wear whatever she wants and that everyone else needs to “respect her choice.” If that's the case, then wouldn't she have the right to wear only her 'birthday suit?' I don't think so.
Respect, in her case, seems to mean “agree with me or else.” Sounds like a classic clash of individual expression versus institutional rules, with a side of cultural tension thrown in for good measure.
The university laid out its case in a letter from Professor Amnon Albeck, the rector, who didn’t mince words: “I received your request to wear the niqab in classes and around campus. I understand that you are doing so now, despite the fact that at the beginning of the year, after a discussion on the subject with Mr. Rafaat Sweidan, academic adviser for Arab society, it was made clear to you that this is not acceptable on campus.” Translation: You knew the deal, and you’re breaking it.
Bar-Ilan’s not banning religious expression entirely—hijabs, the headscarves many Muslim women wear, are fine. But the niqab, with its near-total face coverage, crosses a line. The university’s statement to JNS doubled down: “Bar-Ilan University respects every individual, including their right to observe their religion and customs, and extends this respect to all students. However, in accordance with university policy, all students are required to keep their faces visible while on campus—during classes, in open areas and as part of academic activities.” They added that the rule was explained upfront, and the student complied for months before switching gears.
Why the hard line? The university says it’s about “open interaction, personal identification, and the safety of all students.” It makes sense. Just try running a classroom or ensuring campus security when you can’t tell who’s who. This isn’t France, where they’ve banned niqabs in public and religious symbols in schools altogether, citing their secular utopia.
Israel’s approach here seems more pragmatic: express yourself, but don’t hide your face.
Still, the student’s cry of “persecution” raises eyebrows. Is it persecution to enforce a rule everyone’s expected to follow, or is this a case of someone demanding special treatment under the guise of rights?
The university’s holding firm, arguing that education and security trump individual fashion choices and it seems to me a reasonable rule that everyone needs to adhere to, even those using clothing jihad.Rafaat.
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