Indonesia: Teacher In A State School Shaves Hair Of 14 Girl Students For Not Wearing Islamic Hijab

A school on Indonesia's main island has partially shaved the heads of 14 female students after they were accused of wearing their Islamic hijab headscarves incorrectly.

Enraged over the female students not wearing the hijab in accordance with religious norms, a teacher at a state-owned junior high school in the East Java town of Lamongan partially shaved the hair of 14 Muslim girls last Wednesday.

The schoolgirls reportedly did not wear inner caps under their headscarves, leaving their fringes visible.

The headmaster of the school confirmed the incident.

The headmaster revealed that the school had taken action by suspending the teacher involved and apologising to the affected students' parents.

Islamic politics plays a significant role in shaping hijab and uniform regulations in Indonesian schools.

Most of Indonesia's provinces and dozens of cities impose discriminatory and restrictive dress codes on women and girls.

In July 2021, a high school teacher in the province of Yogyakarta forced a female Muslim student to wear the hijab, causing her to become anxious and depressed. Many female students have been penalised or expelled for not wearing hijabs.

According to the Human Rights group, there have been a growing number of national and regional laws regulating uniforms for Muslim girls and women in Indonesia's education system.