On sixteenth December 2022, the Saudi Schooling and Coaching Analysis Fee (ETEC) introduced that feminine scholars in Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to put on the abaya in examination halls. It’s notable that abaya is an Arabic time period for an extended, free outer garment.
In Muslim-majority areas equivalent to North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the vast majority of the Heart East, ladies usually use an abaya or cloak. The ETEC has suggested the scholars to put on their prescribed uniforms whilst making an attempt the examinations.
Consistent with the Ministry of Schooling and ETEC, which accredits instructional and coaching methods, feminine scholars are required to put on faculty uniforms within examination rooms to conform to public decency rules within the nation. ETEC tweeted, “It is important to stick to the apparel that conforms to the legislation of maintaining public decency within the exam venues, taking into consideration that it’s forbidden to put on the abaya on the time of the exam.”
مرحباً:
يتوجب الإلتزام بالزي المتوافق مع لائحة المحافظة على الذوق العام في مقرات الاختبارات، مع العلم أنه يُمنع ارتداء العباءة وقت أداء الاختبار.
بالتوفيق.
— العناية بالمستفيدين (@EtecCare) December 16, 2022
Abaya was once previous legally enforced in Saudi Arabia. However in 2018, Saudi Arabia introduced that it’ll now not be a compulsion anymore. Mohammad Bin Salman, the crown prince of the dominion, introduced the verdict as the rustic’s popularity of ladies’s rights continues to develop, with main successes together with the verdict to allow ladies to take part in mixed-gender public carrying occasions and the liberty to force efficient this summer time.
In an interview with CBS tv in 2018, Mohammad Bin Salman mentioned, “The rules are very transparent and stipulated within the rules of sharia (Islamic legislation): that girls put on first rate, respectful clothes, like males. This, then again, does now not in particular specify a black abaya or a black head quilt. The verdict is fully left for girls to make a decision what form of first rate and respectful apparel she chooses to put on.”
It’s notable that this choice to prohibit the abaya in Saudi Arabia has come at a time when Islamists in India are combating a court docket fight to get permission for Muslim woman scholars to put on a hijab on instructional premises regardless of the establishments having a prescribed uniform get dressed code. Agitation for this shook Karnataka in the beginning of 2022 after which the subject reached the court docket of legislation. Muslim political leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM additionally stay on making statements about hijab every now and then. Owaisi had mentioned that he needs to look a girl dressed in a hijab turn out to be the high minister of the rustic.