Thousands Kosovo Albanians staged a protest rally Friday in Pristina after girls were banned from school for refusing to take off their Muslim headscarves.
The protesters, who carried signs saying “Stop Discrimination” and chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), demanded that the Kosovo government allow the wearing of religious symbols in schools.
They also urged the authorities to reverse the recent suspension of several girls from school because they were wearing the headscarf.
“Communists out”, the protesters chanted in the front of the government offices.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, adopting a secular constitution which stipulates the separation of religious and state authority.
With an overwhelming Muslim majority but a tradition of moderate Islam at ease with Western values, the government prohibits girls from attending public schools wearing the headscarf.
Recently there have been two cases where young women have been barred from school for refusing to remove their headscarves.
Serbia does not recognize independent Kosovo and is challenging its legality before an UN court.
The U.S. and 22 out of 27 members of the EU are among 69 countries that recognized Kosovo.