By Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 7, (THAINDIAN NEWS) In a recent development that may create a stir in the Islamic groups in USA, a pharmacy college based in Massachusetts has imposed a ban on its students regarding wearing clothes that obscure their faces. These banned dresses include bourqas and face veils. The rule comes weeks after a professor’ son, who is also its alumnus, was slapped with terror attack charges. The new dress policy was made effective on Friday. A spokesperson for the college, Michael Ratty said that the policy was not related to Tarek Mehanna’s arrest that took place in 2008.

The college authorities think that the new policy is not meant for discriminating any student from a racist perspective. It is applicable for the students hailing from all communities and religion. The Muslim students of the college were consulted before the policy was made effective, the authorities said. This ban may also include winter covering such as scarf. As of now, the college has more than 4,000 students. The Boston campus of the college has 3,300 students. However, no other US college has applied any similar policy.

The college authorities are of the opinion that each student entering the college campus should wear such a dress that he or she can be identified easily. The increasing rate of attacks and shootings in US educational institutions could be a factor behind this policy as well. It is possible for the students to maintain their religious freedom without resorting to covering their face, the college authority feels. Stringent security measures are the need of the hour to safeguard the students and repute of the institution, as the representatives said.