Today, a human rights institution concerned with Muslim affairs in the United States called on public and private school administrations in New Jersey to allow students to show their cultural identity during graduation celebrations, in one of the most ethnic and cultural states in the United States.
The Council of American Islamic Relations “Kiir” called on school officials to adopt policies that allow wearing clothes or symbols that express the cultural backgrounds of students, including the Palestinian keffiyeh, which is a symbol of Arab heritage.
New Jersey includes a high percentage of immigrants and migrant children of about 25% of its population, which makes it necessary to enhance the culture of inclusion and respect for diversity in educational institutions, according to a statement issued by the official of the community relations in “Kiir”.
“Graduation represents a moment of pride for students and an achievement that deserves to be celebrated in all its dimensions, including the cultural identities to which they belong.” He added that allowing the wearing of cultural symbols such as the keffiyeh “is a natural extension of the right to personal expression and pride in the roots.”
The statement stressed the importance of school policies reflecting this diversity by encouraging cultural expression, without imposing restrictions that may make students feel exclusion or discrimination, especially on festive occasions such as graduation parties.
The human rights institution had received complaints from students who were prevented from wearing the keffiyeh during graduation parties, which led to their feeling of targeting as a result of their right to expression.
The spokesman for the council explained that some of the policies that were activated after October 2023 appear to be neutral, but in reality it aims to restrict cultural expression, especially what is related to the Palestinian identity, which is something that he described as “rejected and contradicts the principles of justice and equality.”
In a relevant development, a lawsuit was filed in Maryland’s state against an education administration due to the ban on raising the Palestinian flag in a middle school, while other flags are allowed, including the Israel flag. This step is one of the most prominent legal moves aimed at facing what is described as selective discrimination in American schools.
It is noteworthy that a human rights report was issued this year under the title “Unconstitutional Repression Campaign”, indicated that Islamophobia is still widespread in the United States, and that discrimination is due to political positions, especially related to international issues, has become one of the most prominent reasons for human rights violations.
In the state of Pennsylvania, a student at the “Lauer Merion” secondary school reported that he was prevented from participating in his graduation ceremony for wearing a scarf with a keffiyeh. According to the student’s statements, school officials considered that the colors constitute a “political statement”, and he was asked to take off the scarf before allowing him to return to the ceremony.
The school administration confirmed, in a later statement, that clear instructions were sent to students and parents weeks before the ceremony, related to not wearing symbols or slogans that may be explained as political, while defending parties of students’ rights considered that the incident represents a violation of freedom of expression, and reveals the practice of discrimination on an ethnic or political basis.