Syria bans women wearing veils in universities

DAMASCUS - Syria has issued a directive banning women who wear full-face veils from attending public and private universities, the state-run news agency Sana reported Sunday.

The directive reportedly came from the country’s Minister of Higher Education, Ghaith Barakat.

The full-face veil, or niqab, that is worn by some Muslim women is “inconsistent with the values and ethics of academic traditions”, he said.

The ministry had received requests for the ban from a large number of university students and their families, Sana reported.

The ban applies to women wearing full-face veils, not those who only wear headscarves.