On May 31, Sri Lankan students received their exam grades for their advanced or A-Level exams. The government’s Department of Examination decided that even though the female Muslim test takers wore loose, “transparent” white shawls to comply with exam regulations, they had still worn hijab. They claimed that the observation of the Islamic head covering could have allowed female Muslim test takers to hide Bluetooth earpieces. 

Activist Shreen Saroor, speaking about the incident, said “It is systematic and it penalizes Muslim girls systematically. Muslim girls rarely get the chance to sit for the A/Ls, so when they do, they should not face these systematic barriers.”

Teachers and activists see the government’s decision as another instance of the regular occurrence of Muslim girls facing obstacles in education from their own communities.

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