Sydney careers adviser sues NSW government over alleged keffiyeh ban

A Palestinian careers adviser has filed a racial discrimination case in the Federal Court against the New South Wales government, alleging he was directed to stop wearing a keffiyeh while working at a Sydney government school.

Wasim El-Haj, who worked as a careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, an inner-city selective public school, alleges that in 2024 the school's then acting principal told him the keffiyeh — a garment closely associated with Palestinian identity and culture — was regarded as a symbol that could “cause discord” among the school community.

In his claim, El-Haj alleges that being instructed to stop wearing the garment amounted to unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, in breach of the Racial Discrimination Act, and he is seeking a remedy through the federal court system.

Background to the dispute

The keffiyeh, traditionally worn as a headscarf or draped around the shoulders, has become a visible symbol in public debate around the Israel-Palestine conflict, prompting disputes in workplaces, schools and public institutions in several countries over whether wearing it should be restricted.

The New South Wales Department of Education, which oversees the state's government schools, has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations raised in the court filing. The case is expected to test how anti-discrimination protections apply to religious, cultural and political expression among public school staff.

The proceedings add to a series of disputes in Australian workplaces and educational institutions over the display of symbols connected to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with employers and administrators navigating competing obligations around free expression, workplace harmony and anti-discrimination law.