Teacher dismissed over face veil
Ordered not to teach with the face veil
Women dressed in face veils
A teacher at Alif Alif Mathiveri School has been dismissed for wearing the face veil.
Aishath Suzee, a primary school teacher with seven years of experience, was dismissed on Thursday.
The letter sent in by Civil Service Commission (CSC) stated that she was dismissed for having violated the Civil Service regulations. Last January, she was ordered by the school not to attend session with the face veil on. The letter further stated that she should attend session in school in a way that identified her.
Upon Suzee’s dismissal, several parents had protested the decision and some had even refused to send their children to school session.
The issue first surfaced last year, when a parent raised the issue.
Mathiveri island council reported that Suzee was easily identifiable even with the face veil on. Additionally, teachers can only attend session after entering their fingerprints.
The letter quoted chapter 14, clause 145 (a) which states that all civil servants have to be easily identifiable to customers and clients, in a bid to carry out their mandate responsibly and accountably.
Scholars have argued that the CSC laws are moot, stating that the Constitution is clear on how no law can contradict Islamic principles.
A teacher in Rasdhoo island was dismissed over the same issue, earlier this year. Several employees at Immigration Department were dismissed over the length of their beards.
