RIYADH: A Saudi Islamic scholar has sued to block an education ministry move to allow female teachers to teach young schoolboys in private schools, Arab News reported Tuesday.
Shariah law scholar Youssef Al-Ahmad said he went to court to block the new policy after high officials ignored his letters arguing that women teaching boys is haram, or forbidden, in Islam, the newspaper said.
"When I received no reply, I went to court," he said.
Last month Deputy Education Minister Noural Al-Fayez — the country’s first-ever female minister — said female teachers would be allowed to teach boys at grades 1-3 in private elementary schools only.
Ahmad, who lectures at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, said the move violated the private schools law which he said bans gender mixing.
He also alleged it was part of a "liberal scheme" to eventually push through mixing in all schools, the report said.
