There is hardly any mention in the mainstream press about the furore created by a non-Muslim student of the International Islamic University for refusing to wear the tudung during a recent graduation ceremony. Despite the IIU wanting to be a more globalised university, they have failed to respect the basic right of its students. Their argument is that the tudung is a formal dresscode during its graduation ceremony. Surely, they must realise that the tudung represents a religious belief and is certainly not merely a dresscode. Have we ever seen any non-Muslims wearing a tudung? Wearing a tudung is almost synonymous with being a Muslim.

Just as the Muslim world demands justice and the right to wear the tudung, they should in turn respect the beliefs of another. As they fight to legalise the wearing of tudungs world wide from Singapore to France, perhaps they should also show that tolerance is indeed the teachings of Islam by relaxing this absurd ruling.

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