JAZAN — A video was posted on social media showing middle and high school girl students standing outside their school without their abayas (a black cloak worn by Saudi women when they go outside). A father of one of the students said his daughter was not allowed into the school because she showed up with an abaya that did not cover the head. "The principal of the school prevented all students wearing such abayas from entering the school. Moreover, she confiscated their abayas and left them outside without the abayas," said the father. The principal of Mahalat Ghuwan Middle and High School in Sibya Governorate of Jazan Province, Mudhisha Hamlan, said that she is always strict about following the right protocol. "Girls are required to adhere to the Islamic dress code. I make all students wear the abayas which start from the head and not the shoulders. Abayas on the shoulders are not permitted in the school. I even purchased abayas from my pocket money for students who violate the dress code," said Hamlan. She said the father's allegations against her were not true. "I did not leave the students out of the school without the abayas. We let one of the students walk out of the school to her father thinking that her father wanted to give her an abaya. But the father took his daughter's video in front of the school without the abaya," said Hamlan, adding that she plans to sue the father for his false accusations. "I have been working in the field of education for the past 34 years. I have never faced any problems with students adhering to the dress code for 30 years. I have taught three generations. Some of my current students are children and grandchildren of my previous students," said Hamlan. But for the past four years there have been some violations. "The past year, in particular, there were many dress code violations," said Hamlan. "Still, 98 percent of the students adhere to the rules and regulations. I held a meeting with the faculty members of the school to discuss this issue. We even punished students for violating the dress code," said Hamlan.
