Egyptian school's photo of students wearing niqab was AI-generated, ministry says
An Egyptian school's Facebook post referred to "niqab compliance" among its female students and included a photo showing them all wearing niqab. The ministry said the image was generated by AI, while niqab has not been permitted under Egypt's school uniform rules since 2023.
On 5 September 2026, Egypt's Ministry of Education and Technical Education said a Facebook post by Naj' Sa'id Preparatory School, in the Dishna educational district of Qena governorate, had been published in error. The post referred to "niqab compliance" among the school's female students and included a photo showing them all wearing niqab.
The ministry said the photo was not authentic. It had been generated using artificial intelligence and did not depict the school's actual students. The ministry said the post resulted from an error by the operator of the school's Facebook page and was deleted immediately. The school's principal and the page operator were referred to legal affairs for further action.
The underlying rule
The ministry's statement reiterated a rule in force since 2023 rather than introducing a new restriction. Ministerial Decree No. 167 of 2023, which sets uniform standards for students at government and private schools, makes head coverings optional for female students. A covering must be chosen by the student, with her guardian's knowledge, and must not conceal her face.
Niqab is therefore not permitted under the school uniform rules because it covers the face.
Two Egyptian citizens challenged the decree in court and sought to suspend the restriction on niqab before the beginning of the new school year. In April 2024, Egypt's Administrative Court accepted the case procedurally but rejected it on the merits, leaving the ministry's rule in force.
Source. Elmashhad, Al-Ahram, Shafaq News