German court: school had right to ban student’s face veil

BERLIN – A German court has ruled that a public school was within its rights to prohibit a Muslim woman from wearing a face-covering veil while attending high school night classes.

The Osnabrueck administrative court on Monday rejected the appeal of the 18-year-old German woman to wear the face-covering niqab, with only a slit for her eyes, who had argued it was important for her religious beliefs, the dpa news agency reported.

The school rejected her request, saying it hampered teachers from having “open communication” with her and thus harmed their educational mandate.

Security officials from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc last week proposed a ban on the burqa and other face-covering veils in public schools, courts, and in other situations, but it still needs to pass several hurdles.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.