Egypt's top court upholds ban on face veil at flagship university

Female faculty members at a flagship university in Egypt will not be able to wear the niqab, or full face veil, ruled the country's top administrative court on Monday as it upheld a ban, state media reported.

The High Administrative Court turned down an appeal by 80 researchers who favour the veil against a 2015 decision by the president of Cairo University banning them from wearing the niqab at the university.

Monday's verdict is final and cannot be appealed.[embed:render:embedded:node:32841]

The State Commissioner Authority, an advisory body, had recommended a continuation of a ban on face veils, saying the wearing of such garments affects the education process and communication between students and faculty members.

Thanks to its Sunni Muslim majority, Egypt has seen a huge increase in the number of women wearing veils, or headscarves with full face veils.

A majority of Islamic scholars say they believe wearing a headscarf is a must, but few consider the niqab obligatory.

Egypt does not oblige women to cover their heads with a scarf, unlike other Muslim states such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.    (dpa)