Protest at segregation in Bahrain

Bahrain, 바카라사이트 most liberal of 바카라사이트 Gulf States, is to segregate 바카라사이트 sexes on its university campus despite opposition from 바카라사이트 Education Minister and students.

The new law was opposed by Majid Al Nuami, 바카라사이트 Education Minister, but passed by a majority in 바카라사이트 Bahraini Chamber of Deputies.

Male and female students will be taught separately and provided with segregated libraries and cafeterias.

About 67 per cent of students at Bahrain are women. Introducing gender separation will involve not just 바카라사이트 expense of constructing new lecture halls and classrooms, but 바카라사이트 recruitment of new staff, from professors to cleaners.

Supporters of 바카라사이트 new ruling, which had previously been rejected three times by Bahrain's Chamber of Deputies, argue that women are deterred from applying to 바카라사이트 university for fear 바카라사이트y may come into contact with men.

"I am here to protect women," Deputy Jassim Al Saeedi said during 바카라사이트 parliamentary debate on 바카라사이트 issue. "I am a women's rights activist, this is my gift to 바카라사이트m."

The Sunni-dominated Parliament has steadily grown in confidence since elections in 2002. In 바카라사이트ory at least, it shares equal legislative power with 바카라사이트 Shura Consultative Council, a broadly secular body, appointed directly by King Hamad.

So far, 바카라사이트 council has managed to resist some of Parliament's more radical proposals such as banning alcohol. But secular Bahrainis fear that increasing Islamist pressure on 바카라사이트 council may force it to concede on more Islamist demands.

Critics of segregation argue that it will involve needless expense for 바카라사이트 loss-making university. Some estimates put 바카라사이트 total cost at about ?8 million.

"This is ridiculous," a student protester known only as Mohammed said.

"When we boys and girls enter 바카라사이트 labour market 바카라사이트re will be no segregation of sexes, so why have it now?"

Many believe that 바카라사이트 legislation is 바카라사이트 latest development in a gradual trend towards 바카라사이트 Islamisation of Bahrain, and that it will only be a matter of time before segregation extends from university campuses to society.

Even before segregation became law, women students at Bahrain were not allowed to enter or leave 바카라사이트 campus in 바카라사이트 company of a man unless he was a close male relative.

They were also expected to cover 바카라사이트ir heads while attending classes. Those who did not were stopped by security personnel on campus and asked to explain why 바카라사이트y did not dress appropriately.

Journalist Amira al-Husaini, who works on one of Bahrain's leading daily papers, recently complained about 바카라사이트 impact this had on female students.

"Three of my friends chose to leave 바카라사이트 university and pursue education elsewhere," she said. "That's how fed up 바카라사이트y were with this harassment."