Saudi Varsity to Dismiss Female Students for Cutting Hair

A Saudi university today threatens to dismiss female students who imitate men in haircuts and outfits, says a media report.

The Imam Mohammed bin Saudi Islamic University in Riyadh sent the warning messages, while the decision will be enforced from April.

The university stressed that anyone who violates the rule would be suspended immediately without previous warning.

“The decision covers women with very short haircuts as such styles are considered by conservative Muslims as a sin for imitating men,’’ says the authorities.

Report says Saudi Arabia follows gender segregation in all walks in life, including education, and female students at different education levels study in separate buildings from males.

They are also taught by females, except at universities, while in case of male teachers they are either taught behind partitions or the students would be fully covered.

In 2002, 15 girls were killed in a fire at their school in Mecca when religious police stopped the females from leaving the building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress.