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Senior cleric's new Fatwa authorizes Muslim female students overseas to unveil

Qom, July 6, IRNA – Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi in a new Fatwa has authorized Muslim female students studying in other countries to remove their veils (hijab) under very special circumstances to attend academic centers, it was announced Wednesday.

The Shia Marja (a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed clerics) issued the Fatwa (a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority) regarding the difficulties facing Muslim female students who are forced to remove their hijab while they are studying in universities of other countries.

Elaborating on the cases of the Fatwa, bureau of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi released a statement on Wednesday quoting new explanations by the grand ayatollah about the Fatwa following it appeared on media and social networks on July 5.

The statement emphasized that subjects of the Fatwa are the girl students who are forced to remove their Hijabs at the educational and academic centers in foreign countries.

It also underlined that all faithful Muslims are expected to remain committed to their religious duties and avoid misusing the Fatwa.

There is no doubt that women's hijab is among top necessities in Islam and even the non-Muslims know that this is among absolute rulings and in many cases are incumbent to observe it, said the bureau. 

There is no doubt that any religious ruling can have some exceptions if required for example a male doctor can examine a female patient where there is no female doctor. 

In cases where lack of higher education would lead to serious problems for the student or the Islamic society, then a female Muslim student is allowed to remove her hijab only to the extend which is necessary and under special circumstances, i.e. she must wear her hijab until she arrives at the place where she studies, then she can remove it because she is obliged to do so, and then she must wear her Hijab again immediately before leaving the academic center, the statement quoted Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi as saying.

It is expected all Muslims to carry out their religious duties and avoid misusing the Fatwa, he stressed.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi's Fatwa was issued on Tuesday (July 5) reading, 'If committed Muslim females are deprived of higher education, this will prepare the ground for irresponsible and non-religious people to occupy top posts; therefore, the pious believers will be authorized under such special circumstances to unveil but in other cases they are to abide by and maintain their Hijab.'

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