Classes Suspended at the University of Manouba as “Niqab Dilemma” Continues

Classes at the Faculté des Lettres of Manouba have been, once again, suspended until further notice, in the midst of the ongoing controversy surrounding the right to wear the niqab, the full-face veil, in university classrooms. Professors at the university have decided to go on strike until a resolution is reached.

A student wearing the niqab was not allowed in class, on February 28th. The professor, who did not accept her, was following the directives of the university’s scientific council, taken earlier this year. The student insisted on entering without showing her face. As her requests fell on deaf ears, she called for the support of other Salafists.

A group of Salafists – reportedly outsiders and not students from the university – started to protest in front of the professor’s classroom. As the professor changed classrooms, a confrontation between the protesters and professors took place.

“Salafists are not letting us do our job. Whenever us professors try to apply the university’s law, we get physically attacked. This is not acceptable,” stated Radhia Jaidi, head of the English department. “The Faculté des Lettres is no longer a safe environment for us to teach in.”

According to Jaidi, the professors along with the dean, contacted the Ministry of Higher Education in the hopes that the latter could arrive at a resolution to the dilemma.

“The Ministry is not listening to us. So, we contacted the General Prosecutor. We are currently discussing possible solutions and we will not resume classes until we reach one,” she added.

Professor Feiza Derbel confirmed that “the government is not taking the issue seriously.”

The press attaché of the Ministry of Higher Education, Hatem Kattou, stated that the ministry condemns the aggression against professors and expresses solidarity with them. “Chorki Mabkhout, head of the University of Manouba, is currently in a meeting in order to find an urgent solution.”

Kattou said that the students’ best interests should be a priority. Thus, an “année blanche,” or an annulled year, should not be an option. “It is not acceptable to have outsiders disturbing a place that is exclusively made for learning. The ministry is willing to help professors, who have been attacked with judicial procedure, such as contacting the Attorney General,” added Kattou.