topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.44 0.28
DAX 6339.94 0.38
IBEX 30 6543 0.13
CAC 40 3047.94 0.32
FTSE 100 5351.53 0.03
AEX 292.76 0.23
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13154.8 0.36
TSX Composite 11576.47 0.09
ASX 4106.9 0.63
Hang seng 18720.5 0.04
Straits Times 2771.73 -0.04
ISEQ 20 500.94 1.55
You are here: Home News German News German headscarf bans violates rights, group says

German News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


27/02/2009German headscarf bans violates rights, group says

The Islamic headscarf has been the subject of heated political debate in Germany, home to three million Muslims and the biggest Turkish community outside Turkey.

Berlin -- Laws banning female teachers from wearing the Islamic headscarf in parts of Germany violate the rights of Muslim women, according to a report published Thursday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The ban, in force in half of the 16 German states, "discriminates against Muslim women, excluding them from teaching and other public sector employment on the basis of their faith," the report said.

HRW said countries that forbid the wearing of the headscarf, or hijab, violate women's rights just as much as nations that force women to wear it.

"The measures effectively force women to choose between their employment and the manifestation of their religious beliefs, violating their right to freedom of religion and equal treatment," the New York-based HRW said.

The Islamic headscarf has been the subject of heated political debate in Germany, home to three million Muslims and the biggest Turkish community outside Turkey.

Following a series of court cases, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled it was up to Germany's states to decide their policy, prompting an even split among the 16 regions.

"The regulations are not abstract concerns,” said HRW. “The restrictions have a profound effect on women's lives.”

Female teachers refusing to remove their headscarf have been reprimanded and in some cases dismissed, the report said, citing testimony from dozens affected by the ban.

"To renounce the headscarf is very difficult,” said one woman identified in the report as Rabia. “On the first day I 'disguised' myself in the school toilet. When a colleague spoke to me, I broke down in tears. My son asked me, 'what is more important, Allah or work?' I answered him that it is complicated."

HRW recommended that the eight states where a ban is in force should repeal the laws.

"State governments should ... ensure that their legislation and procedures are compatible with Germany's international human rights obligations, guaranteeing in particular that these do not discriminate on grounds of gender or religion," the group said.

AFP/Expatica


1 reaction to this article

B A Stumpf posted: 2009-02-27 16:36:58

In Turkey teachers are also not allowed to wear a scarf in schools. It is still seen by many non-Muslims (particularly women) as something that is forced or strongly urged or even political.

Add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



1 reaction to this article

B A Stumpf posted: 2009-02-27 16:36:58

In Turkey teachers are also not allowed to wear a scarf in schools. It is still seen by many non-Muslims (particularly women) as something that is forced or strongly urged or even political.

Add a comment
Discussion Forums

Legal Problems in Germany

Visa employment help

Australians in Germany

BUY FAKE PASSPORT, DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD

Irish in Germany

BUY FAKE PASSPORT, DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD

Canadian in Germany

BUY FAKE PASSPORT, DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD

Discuss German Culture

BUY FAKE PASSPORT, DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
The ABCs of the German school system

The ABCs of the German school system

What you need to know about German schools and daycare.

German immigration and residency regulations

German immigration and residency regulations

Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German permit system.

Driving in Berlin: Rules, habits and fines

Driving in Berlin: Rules, habits and fines

In part one of our two part series, we cover the driving culture in Berlin, where to park and buy gas and, most importantly, the laws.

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Our comprehensive guide includes information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.