Paul Murphy urges protection for teachers wearing keffiyehs
Paul Murphy raised concerns about staff at Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School being told not to wear keffiyeh scarves and said two staff members resigned after feeling harassed. He called on the minister to urgently clarify that no school staff should be victimised for wearing a keffiyeh and argued there must be a very high bar before interfering with staff clothing.
Paul Murphy said he had contacted the minister about Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School, where members of staff have been told not to wear their keffiyeh scarves. He described keffiyehs as simple patterned fabric from the Middle East worn in solidarity with Palestine.
He said two staff members felt so harassed by a small number of parents and pressured by school management that they have now resigned. He said Zionist pressure groups are pushing schools to ban the item and that at least that school appears to have given in.
Paul Murphy asked whether a very high bar would have to be met to justify any interference with the right of staff to choose their clothes. He urged that it be urgently clarified for schools, perhaps by a circular from the department, to make clear no member of staff should be victimised for wearing a keffiyeh.
He contrasted the public shows of solidarity when Russia invaded Ukraine with what he described as teachers being silenced over Israel's actions in Gaza. He said the depth of feeling around support for the Palestinian people is "guttural and heartfelt" and reiterated that interference with clothing should meet a very high threshold.
Allegations at Harcourt Terrace school
Paul Murphy said he had contacted the minister about Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School, where members of staff have been told not to wear their keffiyeh scarves. He described keffiyehs as simple patterned fabric from the Middle East worn in solidarity with Palestine.
Resignations and reported harassment
He said two staff members felt so harassed by a small number of parents and pressured by school management that they have now resigned. He said Zionist pressure groups are pushing schools to ban the item and that at least that school appears to have given in.
Calls for departmental guidance
Paul Murphy asked whether a very high bar would have to be met to justify any interference with the right of staff to choose their clothes. He urged that it be urgently clarified for schools, perhaps by a circular from the department, to make clear no member of staff should be victimised for wearing a keffiyeh.
Comparisons and public feeling
He contrasted the public shows of solidarity when Russia invaded Ukraine with what he described as teachers being silenced over Israel's actions in Gaza. He said the depth of feeling around support for the Palestinian people is "guttural and heartfelt" and reiterated that interference with clothing should meet a very high threshold.
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Transcript
When Russia invaded Ukraine, schools organised shows of solidarity with Ukraine. When it comes to Israel's genocide in Gaza, some teachers are being silenced and their clothing choices are being policed. I contacted the Minister recently about Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School, where members of staff have been told not to wear their keffiyeh scarves. As you know, keffiyehs are simple patterned fabric from the Middle East, which many wear in solidarity with Palestine. Zionist pressure groups are pushing schools to ban this simple item of clothing, and at least that school appears to be given in. Two staff members felt so harassed by a small number of parents and pressured by school management that they have now resigned. Do you agree that a very high bar would have to be met to justify any interference with the right of staff to choose their clothes? Do you agree that it must be urgently clarified for schools, perhaps in a circular from the department, to make clear that no member of staff should be victimised for wearing a keffiyeh? The depth of feeling that the right liais around this country about the genocidal activity in Israel and support for the Palestinian people is guttural and heartfelt by people, and I do think there should always be a very high bar before you interfere in anybody's clothing. Obviously, in the first instances, there are always matters to boards of management, but let me, in light of you bringing the information to my attention, let me discuss the matter with the Minister for Education.