"We have decided to stand by our principal to demonstrate to all that he did not force us to don the headscarf."

A state-owned magazine had reported that the entire 2,700 students of the school, including 55 Christians, cover their hair with white headscarves, under coercion from the school’s principal Magdy Fikri. Accordingly, he was rebuked by the Ministry of Education and transferred along with two teachers from the school.

Minister of Education Yousri el-Gamal only backed down after the Christian girls joined hands with their Muslim colleagues in defending their principal.

"The minister was moved by the Muslim-Christian solidarity in the case," el-Sheikh said.

Merriam Nabil has been wearing a headscarf since the preliminary grade.

"We wear the headscarves inside and outside the school just like our mothers," said the Christian student.

The disciplinary action against Fikri drew fire from parents of the Christian students and Christian school teachers alike.

The school’s deputy principal, Magdy Rasmi, a Christian, defended his colleague.

"Fikri is one of the best people I know," he told IOL. "Injustice has been done to him and we must stand by him."

Lotfi Adly, the father of a Christian student, agreed.

"If our daughters had been really forced to wear hijab, we would have never kept our mouths shut," he told IOL. "Do you think I would be happy seeing my kid’s hair uncovered?"

The mother of Fayza Awad, a Christian student, said, "I wear a headscarf because Virgin Mary covered her hair. This is all about respect and there is no compulsion."