BAGHDAD — On Oct. 28, the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research made a decision to impose uniforms on university campuses in Iraq. The media reported that the uniform's specifications are “conservative,” since female students are required to wear a “loose, below-the-knee skirt and shoes with heels that are no more than 5 centimeters [2 inches] high, while pants are strictly prohibited for female students.”
However, the vast uproar raised by the uniform requirements prompted the ministry to issue a clarification Oct. 30, stressing that “uniform rules should be strictly applied, but each university administration can determine the specifications of its uniform.” As a result, universities displayed written instructions at the entrances to many colleges and institutes.