May 18, 2002 - 18:16 AMT
BAKU STUDENTS FORBIDDEN ATTENDING LECTURES WITH KERCHIEFS ON HEADS
The leadership of Azeri higher education institutions started fight against fellow and girl students, who appear in the auditoriums with "unworldly" looks, i.e. with kerchiefs and beards. As reported by "Turan" agency, these students are threatened with expulsion. At "Woman and Islam" conference held in Baku State University at the beginning of May it was recommended to introduce common order and prohibit the students from attending lectures in kerchiefs. The specialists of the public Center on protection of the liberty of conscience and confession consider the actions held to be illegal and insulting. The right defenders apprehend that the interference with students' private life will damage the image of democratic Azerbaijan. The Turkish and Iranian girls, who study at the Baku higher education institutions, have already lodged protest.