– Ban the niqab sooner rather than later

Head of Studies at Oslo University College (OUC), Lars Gule, initiated the debate last week when he suggested to introduce a ban on the Muslim veil niqab at every university and college in Norway. Now he challenges the University of Oslo (UiO) to work out common rules with OUC in order to forbid the veils.

– This is a problem that must be addressed now. It makes no sense to postpone the problem until a student shows up wearing a niqab at a lecture and we only have ad hoc solutions to resort to, says Gule.

UiO has not previously considered this to be a problem, since the administration never has received complaints that the niqab causes any trouble in teaching situations. Gule feels that it is «silly» to wait for the niqab to become a problem before handling it, and recommends that UiO brings the matter up for debate as soon as possible.

– Preferably, there ought to be a common set of rules for the students and everyone else involved. OUC and UiO are the two biggest educational establishments in the country, with expertise in all fields ranging from culture, religion and above all legislative competence, which can take part in the discussion.

Will address the matter

Gule brought niqabs up for discussion due to incidents at OUC.

– Colleagues of mine told me about situations where some students were wearing niqab. I immediately felt that this was something that had to be addressed before it became a big problem.

Director of academic affairs at UiO, Monica Bakken, says that the administration welcomes a formal request for co-operation from Oslo University College.

– I will bring the matter up for discussion on Thursday, but I would like to emphasise that we have never before discussed niqabs or seen this as a problem at the University. This is something that must be discussed before I can say anything more about it, but on a general basis I agree with Gule that this is something that should be talked about before it develops into a problem, says Bakken.

Hypothetical problem?

Leader of the Student Parliament, Lina Johanne Strand, does not agree with Gule’s proposition.

– I wonder whether or not this is a real problem. I’ve never heard that this has been a problem at UiO, she says.

Strand feels that this already has received too much attention in proportion to the actual state of affairs at UiO. She disagrees with the statements from Gule and Øystein Djupedal, the Minister of Education and Research, that niqabs makes teaching situations more difficult.

– There are many ways to communicate, and the challenges created by the use of niqab vary from one teaching situation to the next. Hence, this is a question that much be discussed based on the various courses and the individual criteria at the different faculties, Strand says.

She considers the suggestion of a ban to be a confrontation from Gule.

– I fear the symbolic effect this will have on people with minority backgrounds, especially Muslim women.

However, executive for international affairs at the Student Parliament, Robin Sande, agrees that niqab should be banned. Like Gule, he feels that UiO should appoint a work group to discuss the matter.

– Niqab not only complicates relationships between students, but also between students and their lecturers. It is difficult to relate to a person who is almost fully covered, but I admit that this is a very difficult subject.

Afraid of the domino effect

Leader of the Muslim Student Union, Usman Rana, cannot undersand Gule’s initiative.

– Very few people wear niqab, and it is not a piece of clothing that is required in Islam. But most of all I fear the development. What will be banned next, the hijab? I’m afraid this may have a domino effect.

Rana feels that Uio first and foremost need to find out if niqab is a problem in any way, before introducing a ban.

– We must make sure that we don’t offend the individual’s freedom of religion and personal freedom as well as keeping an open dialog with the girls in question. It is important to understand the reasons why they choose to wear niqabs.