MPAC wishes to let the affected students know that we stand full square with them in revulsion at this vandalism of their fundamental rights. MPAC continues to follow with increasing concern the spread of a rhetoric attempting to justify this action, which clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding and appreciation of the immense sensitivity of such an issue and the grave offence caused to more Muslims and non-Muslims of conscience as a result.

In today’s climate of heightened sensitivities, MPAC feels now is the time for people of faith to better acquaint themselves with sacred texts of each other, promote shared values, encourage mutual respect, accept diversity and enjoin peaceful co-existence. The flawed logic that the hijab threatens our secularism, which is the manufactured lie that is used to try and justify the illegal actions, is as moronic as saying that bearing a Muslim name threatens our secularism. It is a grave concern therefore that intolerance and Islamophobia are being taught at school so blatantly, and that many Muslim students are preyed on and forced to study in an atmosphere of fear, grief, intimidation and (threat of) corporal punishment. The dreadful condition of such students must make everyone who believes in justice share their stories and their grief, and these specific cases must be seen for what it is- another examples of a much wider and deeper hostility and discrimination against hijab, which exist in our society, at schools, in the workplace and in the worst of all places: in people’s hearts.

Although the anguish of the affected students and their families continue, it is time for us to let the erring officials in the affected schools know they simply cannot continue to make a living off us, while abusing and illegally criminalizing our religious culture. The MPAC is in close discussion with various parties in an attempt to bring this matter to a peaceful and satisfactory conclusion, and will be making further steps in the near future in this regard, which it will announce in due course.