University warns female students against short haircuts

A Saudi university on Tuesday sent a warning to its female students of immediate dismissal for imitating men in haircuts and outfits, a media report said on Tuesday.The Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh sent the warning messages, while the decision will beenforced staring April.The university stressed that the violated students would be suspended immediately without previous warning.“The decision covers women with very short haircuts as such styles are considered by conservative Muslims asa sin for imitating men,’’ it noted.Report says Saudi Arabia follows gender segregation in all walks in life, including education and female students in different education levels study in separate buildings from males.They are also taught by females, except at universities, while in case of male teachers they are either teach behind partitions or the students should be fully covered.In 2002, fifteen girls killed in a fire at their school in Mecca when religious police stopped the females from leavingthe building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress.