Protest for headscarf rights at university

Some 1,000 people took the streets in the Belgian capital on Sunday 5 July to advocate for the right to wear headscarves at universities, writes Agnes Szucs for the Anadolu Agency.

The #HijabisFightBack event was organised by three local NGOs representing Muslim women and fighting for social inclusion. The protest targeted a recent constitutional court ruling that allows a ban on religious symbols in higher education. The protest was dominated by young women, including many not covered who wanted to protest discrimination and show solidarity with their peers who wear headscarves.

In June, the Belgian constitutional court ruled that prohibiting religious symbols – including hijabs – in higher education does not constitute a violation of freedom of religion or the right to education under the Belgian Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights. The decision came after a Brussels court referred to the constitutional court the case of a group of Muslim women who challenged the Francisco Ferrer College for not allowing its students to wear head coverings.
Full report on the AA site