Australia student banned from school formal after wearing keffiyeh to his graduation

A 17-year-old student from Condell Park High School in Sydney, Australia, was banned from attending his school formal after wearing a keffiyeh-patterned scarf to his graduation ceremony. The school, however, said he may be allowed to attend the event if he agrees not to wear the garment and drops his complaints against the school, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

The New South Wales Education Department Secretary, Murat Dizdar, has offered to meet with the student, expressing a desire for a resolution that would allow all students to attend the formal. The school’s decision has triggered anger within the community, with an online petition and allegations of racism voiced on social media.

On Tuesday, over 100 students, parents and pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside Condell Park High, demanding a change in the school’s stance.

Teachers and activists mobilized at Condell Park High School in Australia to condemn their racist action of banning a Palestinian student for wearing a keffiyeh to graduation. pic.twitter.com/tHA1sqFwil

— V PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (@V_Palestine20) November 26, 2024

A statement on behalf of the student was read out during the protest, which said: “I wanted an apology and to be allowed to attend the formal. This request was sent to the school, the department, and the minister. The response came over three weeks later, in a letter from the department’s lawyers, they said that the school had done nothing wrong.”

“They also said that in order for them to allow me to go to the formal, I had to agree not to wear my keffiyeh at the formal … and to drop any and all claims against the school and the department.”

His older sister called the school’s treatment of her brother unjust, noting that other students wore cultural attire without issue. “The keffiyeh is a centuries-old garment worn by my family, grandparents, great-grandparents and many others in the Palestinian community,” she said.

One student protester was quoted by International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) as saying: “This is a Lebanese area. There are Palestinians, Lebanese, Muslims and Arabs. They take away our right to acknowledge our pain at what’s happening in Palestine. It’s horrible.”

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