Muslims protest Kosovo hijab ban

Thousands of Kosovo Muslims have taken to the streets in Pristina to protest a new ban, which forbids girls from wearing headscarves in public schools.

The protesters were carrying placards, which read “Stop Discrimination” and “Don’t use our state against us,” and urged the government to change its decision and allow pupils to wear religious symbols in schools.

The Kosovo government imposed the ban despite the fact that approximately 90 percent of the country’s population is Muslim.

“We will continue the protests until they allow our daughters to go to school with headscarves,” said organizer Halil Kastrati.

“This is not a uniform but my religious obligation. I respect my religion but I also want to go to my faculty,” Reuters quoted student Fitore Abazi as saying.

The former Serbian province, which declared independence in 2008, has thus far, been recognized by 69 countries. The country has not become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia, which does not recognize independent Kosovo, claims the country as part of its sovereign territory and has taken its case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.