Local education authorities in Russia’s Vladimir Region have introduced a new requirement to the school dress code, barring students from wearing religious clothing, including hijabs and niqabs.
In a document issued on October 22 and published on Saturday, the regional Ministry of Education and Youth Policy stated that a new clause has been added to the document titled “Standard Requirements for Student Clothing in Educational Programs of Primary, Basic, and Secondary General Education.”
The amendment stipulates that “clothing and its elements demonstrating the religious affiliation of the student (including hijabs, niqabs, etc.)” are not allowed in educational institutions. The ministry argued that the rules were established in accordance with the Russian Constitution as well as federal law on religious associations and education, and did not specifically target Muslim clothing.
“The established requirements for school clothing and students’ appearance, regardless of their religious affiliation, ensure the secular nature of state and municipal educational institutions and maintain religious neutrality within them,” the ministry explained in a post on VK on Sunday. The new policy will take effect one week from the date of publication.