THE RIGHT FOR RELIGIOUS CLOTHING, THE RIGHT FOR EDUCATION, HUMAN RIGHTS

 “Everyone has a right to education”, it is written on article 26 on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And this right is often violated because of the religious belief and dedication of those who have decided to wear a hijab.

Illustration: Argjira Kukaj

Religious clothing is a personal choice and as such is legally allowed, and prohibiting it presents a violation and discrimination where according to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo for religious freedom, article 2, it is stated that “No one should be discriminated or privileged in any way based on religious beliefs”.

But an administrative instruction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology that which became effective in the year 2014 which in Article 3- Prohibited actions, point 1.13 says that wearing religious uniforms is prohibited.

A.Q is one of the girls who bears the consequences of this Administrative Instruction. She decided from a very young age to wear religious clothing and her education was prohibited, and at the same time received prejudice for the decision she had taken. She says that offensive and hateful language was also used towards her and she was not accepted in her social circle after deciding to wear the clothing.

“I’ve been labeled as primitive, isolated and now I’m also left with no education, but I’m like all the other girls”, says A.Q. “They say you don’t belong here, go to the Madrasa, thus creating walls instead of bridges for diversity”, she adds.

Prohibiting education for her and other girls who wear religious clothing makes it so that they have to find new paths, which aren’t necessarily liked by them or by forcing them to make the only choice to continue education, which is the Madrasah.

Discrimination done to girls with religious clothing for years has made it so that their right on education to be denied. A.Q, a 14 years old girl, is only one of such cases whose education was prohibited at the time when she was in primary school. But the situation is not good now either, since today we also face cases in which girls with religious clothing not only aren’t allowed to continue education but they also have problems in taking part in the graduate test.

Another girl, L.S, 16 years old, says that she chose private education after the refusal she faced from the public school.

“I tried registering in public school but I wasn’t accepted. After that I had to find a solution and in a way I was forced to go to private school”, she says.

Taking into account the present situation, with prohibiting education and discrimination that is done to girls with religious clothing, let it be understood that their future can also be endangered as far as employment goes.

Based in an article published in “Living Democracy” it is said that education is a human right in itself and a necessary tool for realizing all the other rights. It’s also said there that an educational system that is based on rights, best fulfills its mission for qualitative education for all.

“The right to education should be implemented and celebrated by all- regardless of skills, race, religion, gender, nationality, sexual preferences, class or any other distinctive factor”, it’s written in “Living Democracy”.

Religion is separated from state but this doesn’t mean that faith should be separated from life.

About the author: Eliona Qerimi is a 19 years old girl from Vitia who attends studies in political science.