A German state has banned schoolchildren from wearing burqas. AP
A German state has banned schoolchildren from wearing burqas. AP
A German state has banned schoolchildren from wearing burqas. AP
A German state has banned schoolchildren from wearing burqas. AP

German state bans pupils from wearing burqas and niqabs in schools


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

Germany’s third-largest state has banned full-face coverings for all schoolchildren.

Baden-Wuerttemberg, in the south-west of the country, introduced the ruling on Tuesday.

State Premier Winfried Kretschmann risked a backlash and a legal challenge after other states were prevented from imposing similar measures.

Mr Kretschmann said it was rare for pupils to wear burqas but that a ban was still required.

Germany has been debating veils in schools since February after a court in Hamburg overturned a ruling by the city’s education authorities to bar a pupil from wearing one.

The ban will be in place in primary and secondary schools.

The state's Minister of Culture, Susanne Eisenmann, announced in February that she wanted to introduce a ban after the court ruling in Hamburg because it showed the need for a "legally watertight regulation" to enforce it.

“The current court decision from Hamburg makes it clear that a legal basis is required for a ban for reasons of legal certainty,” Ms Eisenmann said at the time.

“For this reason, we want to quickly amend our school law.

“Religious freedom also has its limits, specifically at our schools, when teachers can literally no longer look at each other’s faces. We do not tolerate full veiling at our schools.”

The Hamburg court said there was “no legal basis” for the ban.

“The student can claim the unconditionally protected freedom of belief," it said.

Germany is divided over the issue, with supporters of a ban claiming it was necessary to “protect girls”.

Julia Kloeckner, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, supports a ban.

But Filiz Polat, a migration policy spokeswoman for the Greens’ parliamentary group, said people being able to wear religious symbols was a feature of a democratic society.

Last year, a YouGov poll found that 54 per cent of respondents in Germany would support a ban on burqas.

Full-face veils are banned in the Netherlands, France, Denmark and Austria.

UPI facts

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Points tally

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The%20specs
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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
How to improve Arabic reading in early years

One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades

Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades

Improve the appearance of textbooks

Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings

Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught

Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Results

Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs

Oman beat United States by six wickets

Nepal beat United States by 35 runs

Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets

 

Fixtures

Tuesday, Oman v United States

Wednesday, Nepal v United States

 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets