Egypt : Imam stands against the niqab

One of Egypt’s leading cleric, Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi d’Al-Azhar, ordered a student to remove her full veil. According to the local newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm, the Imam was visiting an all girls school in Cairo when he articulated that wearing the niqab is purely traditional and has no direct connection to the Koran. He also affirmed his determination to ban entry to girls wearing this attire while attending the high schools who are dependant on him. In addition, the Minister of Higher Education, Hani Helal, has decided to ban access to university residences for women who wear the niqab.