Half of Russians said that the need to lift the ban on wearing hijabs in schools that Muslim children could learn. This is evidenced by the survey data of the Russian center for public opinion research (VTSIOM), published on the website of the organization.
At the same time, 37 percent of respondents believe that the ban should act, no matter what.
Sociologists point out that over the last five years Russians have become more tolerant to external manifestations of religious affiliation in educational establishments. Currently, 47 percent believe that religious items at school “there’s nothing wrong”, and in 2012 was considered by 35 percent of respondents. At the same time, 47 percent believe that wearing the Islamic headscarf in educational institutions is unacceptable, in 2012 this view was shared by 53 percent of respondents.
“In recent years there is an increase in the level of socio-psychological adoption of members of other faith groups is important for different religions symbolic elements such as the hijab, have become more clear and familiar,” explained the Director of special programs VTSIOM Elena Mikhailova. She noted that young people rarely attaches importance to the external attributes that indicate belonging to a denomination.
The debate about the permissibility of wearing headscarves resumed after the leadership of Mordovia Republic has banned teachers and students at the school in the village of Belozerye to wear the Islamic headscarf in order to prevent extremism on the eve of the world championship on football of 2018. On January 24 the Minister of education Olga Vasilyeva said that the question already decided by the Constitutional court, postanowili that the hijab has no place in school. “I don’t think truly religious people attribute their attitude to the faith, we try to emphasize,” said she.
After that, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said that, according to the Russian Constitution, citizens are guaranteed freedom of conscience and religion. “My three daughters in school, wearing the hijab, have great grades. Olga Vasilyeva requires that they handkerchiefs? Girls this will never do,” he said.
The Supreme court of Russia upheld the ban on wearing headscarves and other religious paraphernalia, as well as mini-skirts, jeans, clothing with plunging neckline and body piercing in schools of Mordovia in February 2015. Initially, the ban was established by the government of the Republic.