Syria Bans Face-Covering Veils in Universities

 "Fearing an ever-secular Syria might turn to radical Islam, authorities has quietly banned the niqab, a face-covering veil worn by some Muslim women, in public universities — a move welcomed by most Syrians.  The Minister of Higher Education Ghyath Barakat has given his directives that women wearing niqab would not be allowed to enter the Syrian universities, and has " totally rejected this phenomena which contradicts with the academic values and traditional morals and ethics of the Syrian society" a source said.  

The ban, which was not made public in state-run media, does not affect the hijab, or headscarf, which is favored by the vast majority of veiled Syrian women.  The majority of Syrians, of all different age groups, expressed support for getting niqabs and burqas not only out of schools and universities but out of all public places as well.  Others expressed that 'the ban is wrong as it touches personal freedom and certain way of expression.'"