The Indonesian government has banned the wearing of religious hijab in schools. Earlier, the hijab was compulsory in schools across the country. The ban was issued as a government decree last Wednesday.
The Indonesian government took the decision after a recent discussion of forcing a Christian student to wear the hijab in class. Human rights activists on Friday praised the country's move, saying Indonesian non-Muslim girls have been forced to wear the hijab for years. Hijab is still compulsory in schools in 20 provinces.
As a result, the government's decree is a positive step. "Most government schools require female students and teachers to wear the hijab for fear of social pressure, dismissal or threats," said Nadeem Makarim, Indonesia's minister of education and culture. Freedom ', the school authorities can not decide.
