Two German judges' associations call for ban on headscarves in courtrooms

Two associations of judges in Germany have proposed that lawyers and judges should not be allowed to wear headscarves in courtrooms in order to maintain “neutrality” in courts.

The proposal has been made by the Association of German Administrative Judges and the German Association of Judges, and also the Ministers for Justice in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

According to reports, the two associations have called for ban not only on headscarves but on any external expression of religious belief as they believe it contradicts the purpose of a court – to carry out judicial duty of neutrality.

“The neutral clothing of judges should act as an outward signal to all participants in the legal process that the court will objectively and impartially rule on their dispute according to the law. A law on dress codes must but not only be limited to the headscarf, but include other religious clothing or symbols,” Sven Rebehn, director of the German Association of Judges, told the Rheinische Post.

The opposition to wearing of headscarves to courtrooms started after a 25-year-old trainee lawyer from Bavarian town of Augsburg filed a case against the Bavarian legal system for barring her from wearing hijab to court.

The Augsburg Administrative Court gave a ruling in favour of the woman, stating the ban was not legal and an attack on religious freedom. However, the call for ban on headscarves continues in parts of Germany.