Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from its universities.

The Education Ministry's move on the niqab came as similar ones in Europe spark cries of discrimination against muslims.

The ban affects public and private universities and aims to protect Syria's secular identity, but does not include the headscarf, which many Syrian women wear.

The niqab is not widespread in Syria, although it has become more common recently. Its growing popularity has not gone unnoticed in a country governed by a secular, authoritarian regime.

Last month, hundreds of primary school teachers who wear the niqab were moved to administrative jobs.