German authorities have confirmed that Muslim teachers in Berlin will be allowed to wear the hijab, after the state was defeated in a lawsuit filed before the Federal Constitutional Court.
Berlin's Education Ministry said in an official letter sent to school principals that headscarves and the wearing of religious symbols by teachers will generally be permitted, and can only be restricted in individual cases if they pose a threat to school peace.
Under Berlin's neutrality law, which bars civil servants from wearing religious clothing and symbols, female teachers in the city have been banned from wearing headscarves since 2005.
However, several court rulings issued in recent years confirmed that the comprehensive ban on the headscarf constitutes discrimination and violates religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution.
The Senate Department of Education, Youth and Family told principals that they must comply with the latest court rulings.
It is reported that in 2020, the Federal Labor Court (BAG) decided that Berlin should not ban Muslim female teachers from wearing the veil, but Berlin took action against the decision and filed a complaint, but the Federal Constitutional Court did not accept the complaint; Therefore, the court's ruling is final.
Okaz (Berlin)