ATHENS The American University in Cairo (AUC) has expelled a Muslim female student because she wore the niqab (a full veil that covers the face).

Heba el-Shabrawi was told by the AUC administration last week that 'either she takes off the niqab or feel free to attend another university', Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram newspaper reported.

How can they teach us public freedoms, and then restrict my personal freedom to dress as I wish?'' el-Shabrawi told Al-Ahram weekly. Even if it is not dictated by religion, the issue is still one of personal freedom.''

According to Mohammad Farouk el-Hittami, AUC vice president for student affairs, AUC did not have an official policy on niqab prior to this incident, but after consulting with legal advisers, administrators learned that a 1994 regulation laid down by the Ministry of Education in Egypt prohibited students wearing the niqab from attending university classes for security reasons.

The AUC administration decided that this attire should not be acceptable because allowing students to wear the niqab was a grave security risk' since the identity of the student was hidden, reported the English-language paper.

(IRNA)