From BZ/dpa
The CDU state chairman Kai Wegner has criticized a circular from the education administration on the legal situation when wearing headscarves in general schools.
“We made no secret of the fact that we found the timing of the letter unfortunate,” Wegner said on Wednesday after the coalition negotiations with the SPD. “It’s anything but helpful at the moment, but we’re looking ahead,” said the CDU politician.
“It will be the task of the new state government that the schools here are given criteria to deal with this topic.”
In the letter to all Berlin school administrations, the education administration announced that it was moving away from its previous literal application of the neutrality law. “The wearing of religiously influenced clothing and symbols is only to be prohibited in cases in which there is a specific threat to school peace or state neutrality,” the letter said on Monday.
In mid-January, the Federal Constitutional Court did not accept an appeal by the State of Berlin against a corresponding judgment by the Federal Labor Court.
It was therefore clear that Berlin could not persist in its previous position. In 2020, the Federal Labor Court made it clear that Muslim teachers cannot be generally banned from wearing headscarves.
“We have a court decision and that has to be implemented,” said Wegner on the legal situation. “The important thing is that we make it clear that we do not leave the schools, the parents, but also the teachers alone with this topic.” Clear criteria must now be formulated to ensure peace in the schools.
“Of course we will also look at the neutrality law again,” announced the CDU state leader. “But the verdict is what it is.”
A spokesman for the education administration said at the time the circular was sent out that it had now gone out to the schools in order to provide clarity in good time before the upcoming hiring rounds for the coming school year.
For years, the SPD-led Berlin education administration had spoken out against showing visible religious symbols in schools. This guiding principle is also formulated in the Neutrality Act.
However, the administration lost all lawsuits against Muslim teachers who wanted to go to school with a headscarf and had complained about the restrictions.