Chechen authorities demand compliance of schoolgirls' New Year dresses to traditions

During the New Year holidays, the girls, who study in Chechen schools, should be dressed in accordance with the requirements of the Vainakh ethics. Such instructions were received by a number of heads of educational establishment of the republic from their bosses.

"In general, the ban applies to transparent and translucent costumes, and too open or short ball gowns; parents are at a loss," a head teacher of a Grozny school told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Some pupils' parents express their dissatisfaction with such instructions.

In June 2012, a teacher of the Chechen State University said about an unspoken order that all the women, working at educational establishments, should dress in accordance with Islam norms.

Then, the Chechen leadership had instructed employees of ministries, agencies and other state institutions to dress according to the norms of the "Vainakh ethics". "The working uniform of women-employees should comprise a headgear, a dress or a skirt below the knee, and sleeves covering three-quarters of the arm's length," the instruction dated January 25, 2011, stated.

Natalia Estemirova, an employee of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", then criticized the imposition of wearing headscarves by women. After one of her speeches, she removed from the post of the Chair of the Grozny City Public Council for the Promotion and Ensuring the Human and Citizens' Rights.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.