University in Egypt embroiled in battle of the veil

http://www.womenone.org/faces_21102006.htm

HELWAN - Egyptian students whose faces are completely hidden behind the veil have been banished from the residence halls at Helwan University under threat of expulsion in what could be called the battle of the veil.

“They say nothing to indecent girls, but we -- the daughters of Islam -- are being hounded,” protests 21-year-old student Iman Ahmed. Only her eyes are showing through the slit in her black face veil, called a niqab.

SNIP

The ultimatum provoked a vicious controversy and the ire of Islamists.

It was handed down by Abdel al-Hay Ebaid, dean of Helwan University located on the edge of a large industrial estate 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Cairo. Some 2,800 female students are housed in the seven women’s residence halls.

“What I want is to protect students against those individuals who might worm their way in, disguised under a face veil,” Ebaid says of the ban, adding: “Their parents would kill me if a man infiltrated the women’s halls.”

SNIP

Presumbably there are people controlling the entrances inside the building. Insure they are female and the veil can be removed.

veil inside the female residence halls even though only females are allowed in there -- there are no men to shield their faces from.

I used to live in a muslim country and even there girls who wore the veil were nicknamed "ninjas". I support their right to wear it, but not in instances were there could be a security concern.