Prime Minister endorses the veil

Cambodge Soir

11-09-2008

Young Chams will be able to wear the veil in schools.

In a memorandum dated September 10, a few weeks before school starts, Prime Minister Hun Sen asked the Minister of Education, public and private institutions and affected bodies to officially recognise Cambodian students’ right to wear Muslim attire.

Article 31 of the constitution provides that the kingdom recognises and respects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant treaties regarding the rights of women and children.

“All Cambodians are equal before the Law, without any racial, skin, gender, language, political or belief discriminations" recalled the Prime Minister.

Although each institution has its own rules on student clothing, Hun Sen noticed that Article 31 states that Muslim Khmer students and in particular girls should be allowed to wear their traditional clothing at school and can freely take part in religious ceremonies.