She was dismissed by court order! The headscarf crisis is growing

A woman elected to an honorary judgeship in Germany was dismissed after refusing to remove her headscarf. The Braunschweig Higher Regional Court ruled that the headscarf violates the state's principle of neutrality and that the dismissal could not be appealed.

The Braunschweig Higher State Court announced that a woman who had been appointed an honorary judge was removed from her position after insisting on wearing a headscarf during a hearing. The statement noted that the decision to disqualify a judge wearing a headscarf while serving in a criminal case violated the state's principle of impartiality, and that the headscarf was disqualified from serving.

The court also emphasized that the decision is not subject to appeal. The ruling also stated that judicial officers may not wear visible symbols or clothing expressing their religious, ideological, or political beliefs during hearings.

The court statement stated that honorary judges, as well as professional judges, fall within the scope of this provision because they participate in the decision-making process with the same voting rights.

Honorary judges, commonly known as "unrobed judges," are elected to five-year terms in Germany. After municipalities compile candidate lists, election committees select the main and assistant honorary judges from these lists.

Honorary judges are considered equal in status to professional judges. A two-thirds vote is required for a decision to be made. Honorary judges also have the power to overrule the decisions of professional judges.

Honorary judges can attend a maximum of twelve hearings per year. The case of a female judge dismissed for wearing a headscarf has revived debates about religious freedom and state neutrality in Germany.

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