Malaysia's School No-Turban Rule Upheld

On Wednesday, Malaysia's highest court-- the Federal Court-- upheld the Education Ministry's rule that bars the wearing of a turban as part of one's school uniform during school hours. New Straits Times reports on the suit that was filed on behalf of three Muslim brothers who had been expelled from school for refusing to remove their turbans. They claimed that the no-turban rule is unconstitutional, but the court said that wearing a turban is not a mandatory requirement of Islam. The court also pointed out that students can still wear turbans outside of school, and even in school can wear them in the prayer room. In its decision, the Court praised the Government's moves to preserve Malaysia’s multi-racial and multi-religious make-up.