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Friday May 24, 2013

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Teachers at Islamic school face sacking if they don't wear hijab

Posted by: Ned Franklin | 12 February, 2013 - 11:27 AM
Hijab

A South Australian Islamic school has warned 20 non-Muslim female teachers that they'll be sacked if they don't don a hijab to school functions.

The Islamic College of South Australia's West Croydon campus says if teachers are caught three times without a headdress, they could face termination.

This contradicts the policy of the Australian Federation of Islamic Schools.

Neil Mitchell spoke to Glenn Seidel, South Australian Secretary of the Independent Education Union, who said asking non-Islamic women to identify as Muslim is 'unreasonable.'

"If someone is terminated because of that policy, our union would support members in action under Fairwork Australia unfair dismissal," Seidel said.

"This is discrimination but it only gets tested when there is consequence.  The school would need to take action against one of the teachers first."

Mr Seidel said the school is already facing 'similar legal issues' for their hard-line management style.

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PLAY: Glenn Seidel South Australian Secretary of the Independent Education Union

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Blog comments Your Say

  • In this country we have the freedom to practice whatever religion you want. It is obsurd that non muslims are being told to wear the hijab. Australia is primarily Christian yet we do not make muslim women remove their hijab.

    It is the very thing people love about this country that is compromising it, freedom. The freedom given to people in Australia will ultimately cost us the Australia we know today.

    Nadine Wednesday 13 February, 2013 - 9:26 AM

  • Next they will have to pray 5 times a day ...

    crico Wednesday 13 February, 2013 - 4:49 AM

  • lets not become the uk when it comes to a tread lightly approach or stance on islamic extreme views. look at the drama's over there. lets keep it real. real simple. mutual respect. empathy from both sides and keep the extremists out of the civil debate. more of the islamic moderates should speak up especially if they are what they say they are. good people. real followers of the koran (not radicalized views of the koran). if the western laws of the this land don't suit, back home you go. simple simple simple. come on you aussie pollies. have some balls and govern with your heart.

    jaymezz Wednesday 13 February, 2013 - 3:15 AM

  • Australia; land of the free?

    Clay Tuesday 12 February, 2013 - 10:09 PM

  • Fair enough it's part of the dress code. All good schools have a staff dress code. Wearing a veil at a muslim school is hardly surprising. No one's asking these women teachers to become muslim, just show a bit of respect to your employer.

    Fair Enough Tuesday 12 February, 2013 - 8:05 PM

  • Australia is going down hill fast forcing non Muslims to wear hijabs .They got KFC that do not serve bacon .See if this happens in parts of europe .Imagine telling germans and italians that they cannot have pork

    nat carr Tuesday 12 February, 2013 - 7:42 PM

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