Groningen: University gives student time to think about niqab

The University of Groningen is currently consulting with a female student that since recently appeared in a niqab in the faculty of law. According to the university is is necessary for exams that people can be identified and therefore gave the student several days to consider of she is willing to take off the niqab in specific cases for identification.

The student is a Dutch student. According to the University of Groningen everybody is free to dress as they want but there are two situations when wearing a niqab is not possible.

"Students must be able to identify themselves, for example for exams. In the second place, they must be able to fully take part in the courses. That means also taking part in discussion meetings in the courses. In order to fully take part there, in the framework of non-verbal communications, it is sometimes necessary for facial expression to be recognizable." according to a university spokesperson.

The university asked the student if she is willing to fulfill those two conditions. The spokesperson could not say what the university would do if she refused, saying that the university is expecting her to comply. The university is following the guidelines of the Dutch Equal Treatment Commission (Commissie Gelijke Behandeling)

Source: Dagblad van het Noorden (Dutch)