Bar-Ilan University was sued on Monday for a decision it had made to withhold a student from continuing with her studies after she had donned a niqab, the face veil worn by some Muslim women that covers everything except the eyes.
The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the Tel Aviv District Court by Adalah - the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, which announced the matter on Wednesday.
Hala Odeh, a student of a bachelor’s degree in optometry, was informed by the university on May 4 that, should she continue to don the niqab, she would be prohibited from participating in lessons or from physically remaining on campus.
BIU response
BIU said in response, “Bar-Ilan University is committed to respecting every individual and their right to practice their religion and customs.
“For both pedagogical and security considerations, the university upholds a policy requiring that faces remain visible during classes, in open areas, and throughout all academic activities. This policy was clearly communicated to Ms. Odeh prior to the commencement of her studies on campus.”
The university added that Odeh “commenced her studies in the summer of 2025. Before beginning her program, she sought clarification on whether she could wear a niqab while on campus. At that time, she was told that such accommodation would not be allowed.”
The niqab’s origins trace back to pre-Islamic Arabian customs of veiling and later became associated with certain Islamic interpretations emphasizing modesty and seclusion.
The lawsuit notes that Odeh’s decision was personal, consistent, and related to her religious identity.
Odeh’s “first weeks of classes after she began wearing the niqab passed in a normal atmosphere… She even gave her class a personal presentation about the meaning of the niqab for her, its religious origin, and the way it actually helps her feel present.
“The presentation was warmly received, earned enthusiastic applause, and led to an open and supportive discussion in the course.”
No registered complaints about the niqab
Adalah further argued that, during this time, there had not been any registered complaints about the niqab, “[it caused] no academic difficulty... no incident of harm to instruction, and... no difficulty with identification, beyond the plaintiff’s full willingness to identify herself to a female staff member.”
The lawsuit argues that the university’s decision did not rest on any factual basis, especially given the comparison to other universities in Israel, where it said there is no issue with women donning a niqab.
It further argues that Odeh’s constitutional rights were violated, including the rights to dignity, autonomy, and freedom of expression, “based on clear discrimination stemming from the plaintiff’s gender and religious identity.”
Odeh said, “For me, my religious identity is not a marginal detail but an essential part of my dignity and my being, a red line that I am not willing to allow anyone to cross under any pretext.
“Bar-Ilan University’s decision constitutes a direct violation of these values and of a basic right guaranteed to every student.”
The lawsuit reads, “There is no legal source that authorizes an academic institution to prevent a student from participating in studies because of her religious appearance.
“No provision in the law empowers a higher-education institution to restrict religious dress or to condition access to higher education on a religious-identity compromise. Therefore, the defendant’s action is nothing short of a clear overreach of authority and must be nullified in its entirety.”
Odeh added, “Our struggle is not only legal but also moral: defending our right to practice our faith freely within the academic space, without fear and without discrimination.
“We will continue to stand firmly against any attempt to impose a policy that excludes our religious identity or diminishes our presence, because respect for religion is, first and foremost, respect for the human being.”