KL hired in headscarf row

KL hired in headscarf row

SINGAPORE: A Malaysian lawyer and opposition leader said on Saturday he had been engaged by the families of three Singaporean Muslim girls to overturn a school ban on Islamic headscarves.

Karpal Singh, who is also the deputy chairman of Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party, told AFP he was preparing papers and would file the case with the Singapore High Court "as soon as possible".

Singaporean school authorities suspended the three girls earlier this year after they continued to come to class in the headgear, called tudung, in violation of government policy. A fourth girl decided to stay away from school.

The parents of the three met with Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to engage his services, which he has offered for free. A Singaporean lawyer will be helping.

Singapore's education ministry has banned Muslim girls from wearing the headscarves in school in a move to promote racial harmony in the ethnically diverse island nation. -- AFP