MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma, October 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Educational officials in the State of Oklahoma banned a Muslim student from attending school because she insisted on wearing hijab, drawing fire from human rights and civil advocacy groups.

Education officials in Muskogee, Oklahoma, have twice suspended Nashala Hearn from Benjamin Franklin Science Academy allegedly for violating school dress code by wearing the Muslim head dress.

The 11-year-old is scheduled to return to school next week after her latest five-day suspension, but officials say Hearn will not be admitted to class if she continues to wear the scarf in violation of school rules, Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Hearn has worn the hijab since August 18, the first day of class at Benjamin Franklin Science Academy.

But on Sept. 11, Nashala said she was called to the principal's office and had to call her parents about the hijab. They were told the head scarf violated school policy.

Education officials in this town 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Oklahoma City, said they were not inclined to make exceptions to the rule on religious grounds.

"We have to be as neutral as possible with all religious requests," said Eldon Gleichman, superintendent of Muskogee Public Schools.

Several heavy-weight national rights groups have waded into the debate, slamming the suspension as a violation of the students' rights to free practice of religion.

John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute in Virginia, said Nashala's suspension is appalling.

"The courts have been clear that religious faiths have to be accommodated, even in the public schools, especially if it is part of their faith," Whitehead said of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

He was quoted in a press report as saying his group would file suit if the issue isn't resolved.

the Washington-based Muslim advocacy group, Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR also lashed out at the suspension as a fresh violation.

"This is a clear violation of the student's right to freely practice her faith," said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

In a statement he cited guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education guidelines, based on the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, that say schools cannot bar students from wearing "particular attire, such as yarmulkes (skull caps) or head scarves," during the school day where the attire is part of a students' religious practice.

Hearn's father, Eyvine Hearn, an African-American who converted to Islam, is determined his daughter won't back down.

"She's not going to compromise her religion. We can't turn our back on God."

Since the beginning of the year, CAIR reported receiving several reports of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions.