ABSTRACT
Many countries take into account national interests, socio-cultural, and political considerations when determining the extent to which freedom of religion is allowed. In the case of the United Kingdom and France, legislation has clearly established the right of public schools to prohibit the wearing of religious attire, in particular, the headgear or the hijab. In Malaysia, the process of 'Islamization' and the continuous political debate of advocating a pro-Islamic state represent a country that has confronted the issue of the right of students to wear religiously symbolic attire to school. Freedom of religion constitutes a fundamental constitutional right in most countries even when it is closely associated with the right to wear religious attire in schools. In the context of education and freedom of religion, primary school pupils and secondary
