RELIGIOUS DRESS AND SYMBOLS

Religious Dress in Canadian Schools

Religious Dress in Canadian Schools

Introduction

The issue of religious symbols in the public sphere has given rise to widespread debate on the scope of freedom of religion in various countries around the world. In our modern environment of globalization and unprecedented international migration flows, traditionally homogenous nations face the blurring of established spheres of cultural identity, and, in some cases, governments are changing laws, policies, and politics in an effort to manage these shifts (Kymlicka, 1998). The various political, legislative, and judicial treatments of this issue have given rise to differing interpretations of freedom of religion as defined through domestic and international laws.

Among the most prominent of the religious symbols at stake in current debates is the Islamic headscarf, or hijab. The headscarf is worn by a female over her head, generally covering her hair, ears, and neck. Hijab also has the meaning of female modesty in dress and, for some Muslim women, may involve wearing a large loose garment that can cover the hands and face - a burqa; or a veil that leaves only a slit for the eyes - a niqab.

Hijab is an integral part of Qur'anic teachings for a large part of the Muslim world, but there is little agreement on whether it is absolutely prescribed. Within the Sikh faith, the turban and kirpan are among the five religious obligations of Orthodox Sikh males. Sikh men must keep their hair uncut and wrapped in a turban as a symbol of respect for God. The Kirpan is a curved ceremonial dagger, usually about 20 centimeters long with a blunt tip, which is generally worn underneath clothing. The Kirpan serves as a reminder of the constant struggle between good and evil.

In debates involving the Jewish faith, it is the kippa, or yarmulke, a small skullcap worn as a symbol of submission to God by some Jewish males, that is often at issue. In addition, some Orthodox Jews build succahs, structures made of wood and covered with cedar branches, to be used each year for nine days during the autumn festival of Sukkot to commemorate the difficult conditions Jews faced after fleeing Egypt. An aspect of the more traditionally Western Christian faith, the crucifix is a representation of the Christian cross with a figure of Christ on it. Often hung on the wall, crucifixes may be found in churches, classrooms, courtrooms, and legislative buildings throughout the Western world. Crucifixes may also be worn as a pendant on a necklace.

The most prominent disputes over religious symbols in the public sphere have involved religious head coverings - one of the most immediately obvious demonstrations of one's faith that automatically distinguishes Muslims, Sikhs, and Jews from the larger, mostly Christian population in the Western world. The recent rise of immigrants in Europe has meant that head coverings have become significant symbols of difference, provoking debate about their role in the public sphere (Rawls, 1999).

Current Law and Practice

International Law

Freedom of religion is firmly ...