Russia’s Putin backs ban on headscarves at schoolsOctober 18, 2012 - 22:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, Oct 18, that he is opposed to allowing students to wear Muslim headscarves at schools, but welcomed the idea of returning to school uniforms. Several Muslim families in the city of Stavropol in southern Russia have recently complained to the muftiat saying that their daughters were not allowed to attend school wearing headscarves. “We should always respect people's religious feelings but we must proceed from the fact that we live in a secular state,” Putin said at a meeting with People’s Front activists. “We need to see how our neighbors in European countries are dealing with this problem, then everything will become clear,” he said. The Russian president insisted that attempts to stand out in multi-religious communities will sooner or later make representatives of other religions feel deprived of their freedoms and rights. “It is better if everybody feels equal,” Putin stressed. He also proposed that regional and municipal authorities should consider re-introducing a single school uniform at schools across Russia, as it used to be in the Soviet Union. Putin pointed at the positive experience of some European countries which have a "good tradition" of introducing uniforms not only in schools but also in universities. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. |