Russian court upholds headscarf ban

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PYATIGORSK, Russia, March 22 (UPI) -- A Russian court upheld school uniform rules Friday, barring students from wearing headscarves in schools despite objections from Muslims challenging the ban.

The decree involving uniforms, introduced last year by the Stavropol regional government, came in response to growing anxiety in some parts of Russia over perceived influence and visibility of Islam, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Friday.

Uniform rules, introduced in the southern Russian region, prohibited school children from wearing brightly colored clothes, pants and skirts with low waistlines, veils and religious clothing.

Lawyer Murad Musayev, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the region's 300,000 Muslims, announced Friday he would appeal the decision.