German Court Prohibits Muslim Woman from Being Judge Over Headscarf

A German court in Hesse ruled that a Muslim woman cannot serve as a judge or prosecutor unless she removes her headscarf, citing state neutrality and the religious freedom of trial participants. The court acknowledged the woman’s religious rights but deemed them secondary to constitutional principles. This follows a similar ruling in Lower Saxony, where a lay judge was also prohibited from wearing religious symbols. Critics argue these decisions discriminate against Muslim women and hinder their participation in the legal profession.

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