Brussels University College: Banning Students from Wearing Headscarves is Discriminatory, Belgian Constitutional Court Reminds

A judicial series spanning several years came to an end on November 21, with the anticipated decision of the Constitutional Court.

In 2017, students from the Francisco Ferrer University College in Brussels filed a complaint against the school’s internal regulations (prohibiting the wearing of headscarves) which they considered discriminatory. The court of first instance ruled in their favor in 2021.

Following this court decision, a collective of current and former professors from the University College formed to request a reassessment of this decision, claiming that their interests were at stake in this decision for which they were not consulted. The civil court referred the case to the Constitutional Court to determine if this request was admissible.

Last Thursday, the Constitutional Court decided to reject the professors’ collective’s request, deeming that they were not qualified to ask for a reassessment of the decision. The Court also reiterated the discriminatory nature of a university college’s internal regulations prohibiting the wearing of religious symbols, thus reaffirming the importance of the right to inclusive education in the Belgian academic space.

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