Religious Rights: German Court Upholds Muslim Headscarf Ban in Schools

Der Speigel: A court has ruled that a ban on Muslim teachers wearing headscarves in schools was legal. It said that teachers who covered their heads violated their obligations to keep religious expression out of the classroom.

  
Doris Graber, the teacher at the center of the court case.

DPA

Doris Graber, the teacher at the center of the court case.

 

A German court announced Tuesday it had upheld a ban on Muslim teachers wearing headscarves in schools in the state of Baden-Württemberg. A state administrative court of appeal in the city of Mannheim ruled teachers cannot cover their heads in the classroom — at least not if they do so for religious reasons.

The court’s decision overturned an earlier ruling in 2006 by a lower court, which decided in favor of a teacher who had converted to Islam. The teacher, who had worn a headscarf since 1995, took her case to court after the school board in the state capital of Stuttgart ordered her to stop wearing a headscarf in the classroom.

More: 

Leave a Reply