Muslim woman suing British school over alleged veil ban

A view of the London skyline shows the City of London financial district, seen from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. (Reuters)
Updated 21 July 2017
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Muslim woman suing British school over alleged veil ban

DUBAI: A Muslim woman is suing a top London school amid claims she cannot wear her veil on its premises.

Single mother Rachida Serroukh, 37, explained to UK daily, The Guardian, that staff at Holland Park School, in West London, had told her that the ban was part of the school’s “health and safety” rules.

The childcare assistant said she had attended an event for parents of new students when she was approached by a member of staff.

“I was very shaken and was in a state of shock about what had happened. I had never experienced anything like this before.

“I have experienced name calling in the street from strangers about my veil but nothing like this had ever happened before. When I got home, I just broke down.”

She told the newspaper she always lifted her veil and provided photo identification. And she said received “no problem” from security at the school gates.

Responding to a message from Serroukh, the school’s deputy head teacher said in an e-mail that the school had no written policy banning veils.

But he added: “We are now considering a written amendment to our health and safety policy to include this specific requirement.”


Egypt’s grand museum begins live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient boat

Visitors view the first solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP)
Updated 23 December 2025
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Egypt’s grand museum begins live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient boat

  • The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza

CAIRO: Egypt began a public live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday, more than 4,000 years after the vessel was first built.
Egyptian conservators used a small crane to carefully lift a fragile, decayed plank into the Solar Boats Museum hall — the first of 1,650 wooden pieces that make up the ceremonial boat of the Old Kingdom pharaoh.
The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza. The vessel was discovered in 1954 in a sealed pit near the pyramids, but its excavation did not begin until 2011 due to the fragile condition of the wood.
“You are witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said.
“It is important for the museum, and it is important for humanity and the history and the heritage.”
The restoration will take place in full view of visitors to the Grand Egyptian Museum over the coming four years.