Q&A

Published: 12:00am, 2 Dec 2006

My parents are sending me to the UK next year to study English at university. I am happy about going but, since I am a Muslim, I don't know whether I should cover my hair in a western country. I know my parents want me to do so but some of my friends have said that people will laugh at me and think I am strange. I have friends who have studied abroad and did cover their hair. What do you think I should do?

Florence Robertson, education consultant, responds:

This is a question raised by many female Muslim students planning to study in a western country. Although this is a personal matter and one that you need to discuss with your parents, you also need to check the rules of the university you're planning to study at so that you understand the cultural environment you will be living in for the next few years. The issue of Muslim women covering their faces has been quite a controversial one in Britain and the rest of the world.

You haven't mentioned whether you cover your face or only your hair. Many universities have asked Muslim women not to cover their faces. This rule has become the norm in many universities because of safety concerns; some radicals who are in disguise are managing to slip into colleges. Covering a woman's hair, however, seems to be accepted.

If you do an internet search (try UK universities on Muslim veils) several articles come up. Many of them say universities are against Muslim women covering their faces. This issue has caused a lot of controversy in Britain.

Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw has aired his views on it. He has the support of some and has raised concerns among others. An article on the BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1) gives Mr Straw's views, and those of others. It says: 'Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all. The Commons leader said he did not want to be 'prescriptive' but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult. Another minister, Phil Woolas, has recently joined him in this statement. 'Because the topic of Muslim veils is a growing issue in the UK, it is wise for you to check all the rules of the university that you will be attending before you go.'

The Ukcosa website (www.ukcosa.org.uk) is an excellent place to start researching if you are planning to go to a British university.

If your university does not mind you covering your hair, then you have to ask yourself why you want to do so in the first place. If this is part of your culture and belief, why would you change just because you're in a different country? If you believe in something and it's not hurting anyone or breaking university rules, you can be firm in your beliefs and explain them to your new friends. This is not always easy when you don't have your family and friends to support you. But standing up for what you believe in makes you a stronger person and those around you will understand, if they are open-minded.

It is important to know all the rules of the country and the university where you will be studying for several years, especially those that may have an impact on your culture and beliefs. Knowing this, you can then talk to your parents about what you will be facing in a different country and be more prepared to make decisions about things you feel strongly about.

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