People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has claimed that “Zionist pressure groups are pushing schools to ban” Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, and said two members of staff at Harcourt Terrace ETNS have “felt so harassed” that they have resigned.
He has called for the Department of Education to issue a circular “to make it clear no member of staff should be victimised for wearing a keffiyeh”.
In response, Tanaiste Simon Harris said that “there should always be a very high bar before you interfere in anybody’s clothing” and pledged to “discuss the matter with the Minister for Education”.
A keffiyeh is a square piece of patterned fabric, originating from the Middle East, which many wear as a scarf to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The Dublin South West TD says he has been in touch with members of staff at the city centre school who claim to have been “harassed by a small number of parents and pressured by school management” to not wear their keffiyeh scarves. He contrasted this with how schools had organised demonstrations of solidarity with Ukraine following the Russian invasion, saying that “when it comes to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, teachers are being silenced, and their clothing choices are being policed.”
Paul Murphy TD raised the issue in the Dáil today with the Tansiaste Simon Harris, urging for the Department to clarify with schools that they cannot victimise staff for wearing a keffiyeh. Speaking after the engagement with the Tanaiste, he said:“I welcome the Tanaiste’s statement that there must be a very high bar to any interference with what education staff can wear, and that he will raise this issue with the Minister. Schools and teachers across the country are coming under pressure from Zionist pressure groups, and they need support from the Department. The Department should issue clear guidance that schools cannot ban staff from wearing keffiyehs, or victimise staff who do.”