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Kuwaiti veiled doctors told to avoid training in France

Kuwaiti doctors who wear headscarves should not be sent to France for training in local hospitals, the cultural attache in Paris has recommended

Gulf News
Manama Kuwaiti doctors who wear headscarves should not be sent to France for training in local hospitals, the cultural attache in Paris has recommended.

The recommendation is to avoid embarrassing situation for the women who under French law cannot take up a position in public hospitals, Kuwaiti Arabic daily Al Watan reported, citing a letter sent by the Kuwaiti cultural attaché to the civil service bureau in Kuwait City.

No display of religious symbols

French laws prohibit veil-wearing women from working in public places under the claim that ostensible religious symbols cannot be displayed.

According to a cooperation protocol between Kuwait City and Paris, Kuwaiti doctors are sent to train in France where they are considered resident doctors with the health ministry and public sector employees.

"All female doctors who want to train in French hospitals must be aware of the difficulties they might face as a result of the law banning government sector employees in France from wearing religious symbols while on duty," the cultural attache said.

"Kuwaiti physicians, who train in French hospitals, are considered public sector workers, and must therefore abide by the law."