Palestinian careers adviser sues NSW over alleged keffiyeh ban at Sydney school
Wasim El-Haj alleges he was told to stop wearing the garment because it 'may cause discord,' and has filed a racial discrimination claim against the state.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
A Palestinian careers adviser has lodged a racial discrimination case in Australia's federal court against the state of New South Wales, alleging he was directed to stop wearing a keffiyeh while working at a Sydney government school.
Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, an inner-city selective government school, alleges that the school's then acting principal told him in 2024 that the keffiyeh was regarded as a symbol that "may cause discord." He alleges the state's conduct breached the Racial Discrimination Act.
The case raises questions about how schools navigate the display of cultural and political symbols by staff, particularly amid heightened sensitivities in the wider community. El-Haj's claim centers on the argument that singling out the keffiyeh, a garment closely associated with Palestinian identity, amounted to unlawful discrimination rather than a neutral application of school policy.
The New South Wales government has not been quoted in connection with the specific allegations, and the matter will now proceed through the federal court, where the state will have the opportunity to respond to the claims.
Sources
- Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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