Pattani: A Buddhist group Thursday demanded a local school reinstate a ban on Islamic headscarves and other religious clothing or face a protest.
The demand came a few days after Anuban Pattani School overturned a previous ban and agreed to allow students to wear religious clothing to school following complaints by parents.
About 400 people, that included Buddhist parents and the school alumni, Thursdaygathered at a temple in Muang district to protest against the school's revocation of the ban. They said scrapping it was not justified.
According to the group, Anuban Pattani School, which is located on the temple's property, had followed the wishes of a former abbot for 50 years without incident until recently.
They also criticised education officials for abusing their authority, saying the revocation of the ban was a poor decision which failed to take into consideration the feelings of the Buddhist community.
Phrakru Samutpisit Analayo, vice-chairman of the Thai Buddhist federation in Yala, said the school's rule on religious clothing had been in place for 50 years and should continue.
He also threatened to file a malfeasance lawsuit against those involved in lifting the ban and accused them of trying to appease certain groups.
The monk said Buddhist associations in the three southernmost provinces would gather to oppose the school's decision if the education authorities concerned did not respond to the demand by today.
The headscarf ban was originally implemented by the school board on the basis that the school is located within a temple compound. The controversy erupted last week shortly after the new academic semester started.
Three parents were informed of the ban and reportedly told administrators they would transfer their children to another school if it wasn't lifted.
The school backed down on Sunday after education permanent secretary Karun Sakulpradit and Boonrak Yodpetch, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) stepped in to prevent the dispute from escalating.
The parents threatened to protest against the ban by having their children wear Muslim clothing to school when it opened on Monday. According to the parents, the Education Ministry's uniform regulations allow students to wear religious clothes and the school ban was not right.