Islamic studies students complain of entry exam bias

Islamic studies students applying to study at Tashkent University in Uzbekistan have described their university entry exam as a ‘scandal’ after they found questions probing their opinions regarding the Central Asian state's secular laws, reports World Bulletin.

One applicant wrote a letter to the Ozodlik radio station complaining that the questions asked were based on anti-Islamic policies, leaving students in a dilemma. According to the letter, the university asked questions regarding students' opinions on the headscarf and whether they felt it was necessary in this day and age. Another question asked students what ‘Islamic groups’ they were aware of, which applicants considered to be a trick question to find out their political opinions.

A representative from the university admitted to the radio station that these questions were asked and that they had been selected by the university's professors. Although Islam is by far the dominant religion in Uzbekistan, with Muslims constituting 90% to 96% of the population, political expressions of Islam as well as open displays of Islamic symbols are largely suppressed in the country.
Full report on the World Bulletin site