Courts in Germany discriminated against: The people with the tissue outside, the crosses inside

Bravaria's Constitutional Court rejected the Islamic religious community's appeal Monday to withdraw the ban on wearing headscarves by judges and prosecutors. This was done on the grounds that they are obliged to be neutral in matters of religion and ideology, reports “DW”.

The court expressed the opinion that the ban, which also prohibits officials from bearing religious symbols such as crosses or quip, during court hearings, is not directed against the laws of freedom and religious equality.

The debate over the cross

The Islamic group had argued that the ban violates both laws, since the Christian symbol of the cross hangs in the bavarese halls of the courts. The court rejected this argument. She held to the position that the presence of the crosses is another issue, since it puts no doubt about the neutrality of judges and prosecutors as individuals. The court further stated that the ban does not discriminate against women because other religious objects, which men hold, are forbidden.

Long Decree

The issue of wearing headscarves by Muslim women, especially civil servants, has been the subject of debate in Germany for many years. On another contribution to this debate, the deputy chairman of the CLU Parliamentary Group/ CSU in the German parliament, Carsten Linnemann reiterated a recently heard call to stop the headscarf for girls under the age of 14.

The girls should have the opportunity to grow up with the same rights as the boys, Lindeman told the daily Rheinische Post in an interview published Monday. Lindemann has recently been in a group of editors of an anthology titled “Political Islam is not part of Germany” and is part of a group that promotes more tough integration policies.

Disputed Plan

Last year, the government of the largest country by the population in Germany -- Rini-North-Verior -- opened the way to a plan to pass a law that prohibits girls under the age of 14 wearing headscarves at school at the end of 2019. Critics of the headscarf view it as a symbol of the oppression of Muslim women. It can further signal a closeness to more fundamental beliefs. Others view the headscarf ban as interference with personal rights.