Results of 70 Muslim Students Withheld in Sri Lanka Over Wearing Hijab in Exams
The controversy surrounding the withholding of exam results for 70 Muslim girls in Sri Lanka has sparked widespread debate and condemnation, highlighting issues of religious freedom, discrimination, and educational access in the country. The students, primarily from Zahira College in Trincomalee and predominantly from low-income families, appeared for their Advanced Level (A/L) exams in January 2024. They wore loose, transparent white shawls instead of traditional hijabs to comply with college regulations requiring visible ears to prevent cheating. Despite being allowed into the examination hall under these conditions, the Department of Examinations later decided to withhold their results, alleging that the shawls could have concealed Bluetooth earpieces. The decision has been met with strong criticism from teachers, activists, and the Muslim community, who argue that the students followed the guidelines set by the college and were unfairly penalized. Activist Shreen S...
