The prohibition of wearing veil in public schools in Egypt: an analysis of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court jurisprudence
| Autor | Mohamed A. Arafa |
| Cargo | Adjunct Professor of Islamic Law at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianapolis, United States of America) |
| Páginas | 69-85 |
Licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons
Licensed under Creative Commons
69
Revista de Investigações Constitucionais, Curitiba, vol. 4, n. 1, p. 69-85, jan./abr. 2017.
Revista de Investigações Constitucionais
ISSN 2359-5639
DOI: 10.5380/rinc.v4i1.50341
The prohibition of wearing veil in public schools
in Egypt: an analysis of the Egyptian Supreme
Constitutional Court jurisprudence
A proibição da utilização de véus em escolas públicas
no Egito: uma análise da jurisprudência da
Suprema Corte Constitucional egípcia
MOHAMED A. ‘ARAFA*
Indiana University School of Law (United States of America)
Alexandria University Faculty of Law (Egypt)
marafa@iupui.edu
Recebido/Received: 26.01.2017/ January 26th, 2017
Aprovado/Approved: 06.02.2017 / February 6th, 2017
Como citar esse artigo/How to cite this article: ‘ARAFA, Mohamed A. The prohibition of wearing veil in public schools in Egypt:
an analysis of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court jurisprudence. Revista de Investigações Constitucionais, Curitiba,
vol. 4, n. 1, p. 69-85, jan./abr. 2017. DOI: 10.5380/rinc.v4i1.50341.
* Adjunct Professor of Islamic Law at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianapolis, United States of
America). Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), 2013, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianopolis, USA).
Assistant Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at Alexandria University Faculty of Law (Egypt). Master of Laws (LL.M.)
in American Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, 2008, University of Connecticut School of Law (USA). Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.),
2006, Alexandria University, Faculty of Law (“English” Department) (Alexandria, Egypt). E-mail: marafa@iupui.edu.
Abstract
On 18 May 1996, the Supreme Constitutional Court of
Egypt upheld Case No. 8, which discussed the constitu-
tionality of an administrative act of the Ministry of Educa-
tion which, regulating the uniforms that should be used
in Egyptian public schools, prohibited the use of a veil.
The article exposes the factual content that involved the
case, analyzing this decision through the fundamental
right to religious freedom and the necessary limits that
must be imposed in a liberal interpretation of Islamic
Law.
Keywords: Islamic Law; veil; public school; religious free-
dom; Egypt
Resumo
Em 18 de Maio de 1996, a Suprema Corte Constitucional do
Egito julgou o caso nº 8, no qual se discutia a constituciona-
lidade de um ato administrativo do Ministério da Educação
que, ao regular os uniformes que deveriam ser utilizados
nas escolas públicas egípcias, proibiu a utilização de véu.
O artigo expõe o conteúdo fático que envolveu o caso,
analisando essa decisão através do direito fundamental à
liberdade religiosa e os limites necessários que devem ser
impostos a uma interpretação liberal da Lei Islâmica.
Palavras-chave: Lei Islâmica; véu; escola pública; liberda-
de religiosa; Egito.
CONTENTS
1. Introduction; 2. The Parties and the Main Facts of Case 8/1996; 3. The SCC’s Holding; 4. The Impact
and Inuence of Case 8/1996 (Assessment); 5. References.
Untitled-1 69 22/10/2018 17:35:02
Revista de Investigações Constitucionais, Curitiba, vol. 4, n. 1, p. 69-85, jan./abr. 2017.
Mohamed A. ‘Arafa
70
1. INTRODUCTION
Case No.8 of 1996 is a landmark decision of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional
Court (“SCC”) and represents one of the most signicant judicial rulings of a structural
remedy for the interpretation of Article 2 of Egypt 2014 Constitution. The jurisprudence
of the SCC is essential to advance a moderate (liberal), rights-protecting interpretation
of Sharie‘a. I n this case, the SCC held that a rule on face-veiling in public schools is
compatible not only with Islamic law, but with certain human rights guaranteed by
the Constitution:, as freedom of expression and freedom of religion. This decision de-
alt with the SCC’s view on Islamic ijtihad (legal reasoning), and, gives insight into the
Court’s views on civil and political rights context. Further, this case oers fascinating
prospects for comparative constitutional law experts, and international human rights
activists, as laws restricting women’s rights, (particularly to cover/veil) have been con-
fronted as unconstitutional in several Arab and European countries (Headscarves in the
headlines 2004). Indeed, the SCC judgment facilitated fruitful comparative analysis and
debate on the free exercise of religion, freedom of expression, children and women’s
rights. This case has been featured as a cornerstone in Middle Eastern constitutional
theories, as it examined Egypt’s constitutional jurisprudence–which has the power to
review the constitutionality of laws and decrees, interpretation of Islamic law. It has
developed its private adequate “interpretation from within” of spiritual norms–facing a
liberal-religious split, as Egypt have observed a substantial growth in the phenomena
of extreme Islamism, under Presidents Gamal ‘Abdelnasser, Anwar Sādāt, and recently
under the exiled President Mohammad Morsi ousted by the popular protests on June
30, and the military on July 3, 2013.1
This brief article rst covers (in Part II) the background of the case and its facts,
before turning in (Part III) to the holding itself and its most noticeable feature–the
Court’s declaration of a liberal interpretation of the Sharie‘a law. Part IV provides a de-
tailed assessment of that ruling, addressing the impact of the case both within and
outside of Egypt, as constitutional courts in Mediterranean countries, as in Egypt, have
situated themselves as central secularizing powers in their societies. Also, it proposes
that the ever-accelerating condence on domestic supreme judicial bodies in religious
constitutionalism concerning religion and state enquiries oers signicant understan-
dings for accepting the political roots of judicial authority and the circumstances under
which political aspect to the judiciary is probably to ensue.
1 ‘ARAFA, Mohamed. Whither Egypt? Against Religious Fascism and Legal Authoritarianism: Pure Revolution,
Popular Coup, or a Military Coup d’état? Indiana International and Comparative Law Review, Indianopolis,
vol. 24, n. 4, p. 859-897, 2014. p. 865-871.
Untitled-1 70 22/10/2018 17:35:02
Para continuar a ler
PEÇA SUA AVALIAÇÃO