Dozens protest 'discrimination' against hijab-wearing student in Lebanon's AUB university

Maryam Dajani shared on Facebook pictures of the demonstration on university premises, during which signs reading "No to discrimination" and "No to hate" were held.

Last week, the sociology and anthropology student took to the social media platform to relay an exchange she had with her sociology professor at the university.

Dajani said she had "politely" requested from her professor Samir Khalaf to repeat something he said during a seminar.

To her shock, he replied "You know why you can't hear me, because you have that stupid scarf covering your ears… if you removed that scarf you would've been able to hear me."

Later she learned from other AUB students who claimed to have also been victims of discrimination by the same professor.

On Wednesday, Dajani told The New Arab that it was important that the episode does not happen again.

"I appreciate all the support I have received. However, the demonstration today didn't just represent the indignation against the incident that occurred with me but all discriminative acts," she said.

"Our goal is to ensure such behavior will not be repeated in AUB again."

Dajani said she submitted a formal complaint to the university.

"No decision has been made yet but they are taking the matter very seriously," she told The New Arab.

"AUB values diversity and acceptance of all individuals and will not be tolerating such acts of discrimination."

She urged those who have been treated in the same way to come forward.

"All those who have been damaged by such behaviors must face and confront and should not avoid or escape. This is the only way we can resolve this phenomenon."

The professor, Khalaf, gave his version of events to Step Feed. He said Dajani was the only hijab-wearing student in the seminar and that "she wears it so tightly over her ears".

He claimed the student "constantly" asks him to repeat what he said as a result. However, admits that "In retrospect, I over-reacted".

"Perhaps I should not have been so candid and told her that if the scarf is not so tightly covering her ears, she might be in better condition to hear me more audibly," Khalaf said.