A commission established by the government last year to look into the situation of non-Danish women in Denmark came with a shocking proposal – to ban headscarves in schools.
- Why? “It divides children and shows that Muslim girls are different from Danish girls” according to the commission.
- A similar ban was introduced in France in 2004. As a result, 5% of the girls that wanted to wear a headscarf have abandoned school. There is a high risk that in Denmark the percentage will be much higher.
- If the headscarves should be banned, all other religious symbols in schools need to be banned as otherwise it is religious discrimination. Freedom of religion is protected by the Constitution.
- The leaders of the Danish schools do not support the idea and call it a “huge problem”. Several experts have denounced the commission as their work so far is not based on any researched evidence.
