5 Muslim girls in Russia’s North Caucasus region are not allowed to attend classes while wearing a hijab.

      The scandal erupted a week ago at a school in the village of Kara-Tyube in Russia’s Stavropol region. Several Muslim girls were told they would not be allowed to enter the school unless they took off their hijabs. Their parents started filing complaints to the muftiat and the district prosecutor’s office, saying their freedom of religion and rights to education are violated.

      Mufti of Stavropol Muhammad Rakhimov addressed the heads of districts, the governor and prosecutor of the Stavropol to help resolve the situation. The prosecutor has promised to issue a legal assessment of the incident within 30 days.

      Russia’s Education Ministry backed the school’s administration, saying that schools have rights to adopt their own regulations regarding uniform and rules of conduct. However, several Russian human rights activists believe such questions should be resolved in favor of tolerance.