The recent ruling imposed by the government of Singapore banning female Muslim students from wearing tudung (headscarf) in schools is unreasonable and wrong. It deserves the condemnation of all who cherish secular human rights and human dignity.

In London, police personnel of different ethnic and religious backgrounds are allowed to wear turban (for Sikhs) and tudung (for female Muslims) as long as the colour of the turbans or tudung match the colour of their police uniforms.

It shows the religious and cultural tolerance of the true westerners and western societies. In British schools and universities, female Muslims wearing tudung are normal. What is the Singaporean government trying to prove? That it is more 'westernised' than the westerners?

If female Muslims are not allowed to wear the tudung , will the ban extend to other types of headwear as well? Has secularism itself become a new religion, merely replacing the ulama (clerics) with secular dictators?