Berlin in the headscarf dilemma: the Greens and the Left are calling for a radical change!

Berlin in the headscarf dilemma: the Greens and the Left are calling for a radical change!

At the heart of the political debates in Berlin, the issue of headscarves for teachers is gaining momentum. The Berlin government coalition of CDU and SPD is planning a reform of the neutrality law that would allow teachers to wear headscarves provided there is no *specific threat or disruption* to school peace. This initiative comes at an important time, as the state elections next year are just around the corner and various legislative proposals are to be introduced before the summer break, as [Welt](https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article256296516/Berlin-Lehrerinnen-duerfen-in-Schulen-bald- Kopfuch-träger.html) reports.

However, the planned change in the law is being sharply criticized by the Greens and the Left in Berlin. Tuba Bozkurt from the Green Party points out that despite the adjustments, legal uncertainties remain for teachers who wear a headscarf. In particular, the unclear definition of “school peace” and the criteria that lead to a *violation of state neutrality* are viewed as problematic. Elif Eralp from the Left calls the planned change a *disappointment for Muslim women* who want to work in schools, as can be read in taz.

Criticism of the existing neutrality law

The previous neutrality law prohibits the wearing of religious clothing for state employees such as teachers, police officers and judicial employees - with the exception of vocational schools. Court rulings, such as those of the Federal Constitutional Court in 2015 and the Federal Labor Court in 2020, have found this ban on teachers to be unconstitutional. It turns out that wearing religious clothing does not automatically indicate a disregard for state neutrality.

The arguments put forward are clear: In practice, the ban particularly affects teachers who wear an Islamic headscarf. Complaints about unjustified rejections due to the headscarf have increased noticeably in recent years. However, there was a ray of hope in 2023, when the education administration announced that the neutrality law would no longer be applied to female teachers. This led to sporadic hiring of “headscarf teachers,” but also to rejections.

Future outlook

The reform proposed by the coalition is intended to adapt the law to the highest court case law, with the aim of only applying it in the event of objectively verifiable threats. With a view to the upcoming legislative proposals, the mood in Berlin will become more intense in the next few weeks. Martin Matz from the SPD defends maintaining the ban on the police and judiciary, while Orkan Özdemir from the SPD favors a less restrictive regulation. The pressure is increasing, especially before the next elections on September 20, 2026.

As part of these discussions, other topics such as training places, video surveillance and the socialization law are also on the agenda. These comprehensive bureaucratic adjustments are intended to help Berlin's educational institutions to reposition themselves while at the same time taking into account the needs of a multicultural society Spiegel highlights.

It remains to be seen whether the coalition can implement the planned laws before the summer break. The last plenary session before the summer break will take place on July 10th and could be decisive in determining whether the headscarf for teachers in Berlin will soon become a reality or remain a political issue.