Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at Sydney school sues for racial discrimination
Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the New South Wales government. He alleges that school officials ordered him to stop wearing a keffiyeh in 2024 because the garment was viewed as a symbol of conflict that could cause discord. The NSW Department of Education upheld the ban, citing the need to maintain safety and security within school communities amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict.
- ▪Wasim El-Haj alleges that the acting principal directed him to remove his keffiyeh in May 2024 under orders from higher authorities.
- ▪The school justified the ban by stating that schools must remain free of symbols that stir strong emotions or cause discord.
- ▪NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar upheld the decision in February 2025, prioritizing school community safety over the cultural significance of the garment.
- ▪El-Haj began wearing the keffiyeh in January 2024, shortly after the start of the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks.
- ▪The lawsuit was lodged in the federal court alleging that the state's conduct breached the Racial Discrimination Act.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/27/palestinian-careers-adviser-who-was-allegedly-told-to-stop-wearing-keffiyeh-at-sydney-school-sues-for-racial-discrimination-ntwnfb |
| Publication time | Sat, 26 Sep 2026 20:00:45 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-26T20:15:40.047Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-26T20:15:40.047Z |
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Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, is suing NSW for racial discrimination after allegedly being ordered to stop wearing a keffiyeh at the school. Photograph: The GuardianView image in fullscreenWasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, is suing NSW for racial discrimination after allegedly being ordered to stop wearing a keffiyeh at the school. Photograph: The GuardianNew South WalesPalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at Sydney school sues for racial discriminationWasim El-Haj alleges NSW government school ordered him to stop wearing symbolic garment as it ‘may cause discord’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter Sat 26 Sep 2026…
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