Experts see no sense in banning religious clothing in Pirogov University in Moscow

The ban on wearing of religious clothing introduced at the Pirogov Medical University in Moscow is not logical. Clothing has no influence on the educational process, and the ban will lead to the opposite effect. Moreover, the very fact of the ban does not look as thoughtful. This opinion has been expressed by experts questioned by the "Caucasian Knot".

On September 10, the Rector of the Pirogov Medical University signed the order regulating the appearance of the university students. One of the points of the regulations prohibits students to come to lessons in clothing "pointing to the identity of a particular nationality or religion," including national headwear.

The ban can be associated with the desire of the University's administration to introduce standards in the clothing of students, explained Ruslan Zaseev, a lawyer of the Pirogov Medical University.

Students of the University have stated that they do not approve such bans.

Such a ban is possible in situations of problems in interfaith relations, emphasized Alexei Malashenko, Professor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, a member of the scientific council of the Moscow Carnegie Centre.

According to the Professor, in this case, irritation is caused by the very form of the order, since it is a ban and not a recommendation for wearing.

According to Enver Kisriev, the head of the Caucasus Department at the Centre for Civilizational and Regional Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), there are no reasons for students to feel aggrieved in their rights.