23 Aug 2010

Court rules religious clothing not compulsory

11:25 am on 23 August 2010

A court in Bangladesh has ruled that people cannot be forced to wear skull caps, veils or other religious clothing in workplaces, schools and colleges.

The BBC says the ruling followed reports that a college in the north had forced students to wear veils.

The high court also ruled that women cannot be prevented from taking part in sports or cultural activities.

The court said that wearing any form of religious clothing, for students and employees, should be a personal choice.

In April this year, the court ordered schools and colleges not to force women to wear the burqa, a garment that covers the entire body except the eyes and hands.