Muslim law trainee wins case after being banned from wearing a headscarf at work

A 25-year-old trainee lawyer took the German state of Bavaria to court, and won, after she was told she could not wear her hijab at work.

A 25-year-old trainee lawyer took the German state of Bavaria to court, and won, after she was told she could not wear her hijab at work.

Aqilah Sandhu, reported to have been a star student at Augsburg University law faculty, began a traineeship with the Bavarian judicial system after completing her state law exams, but was told in a letter that she was not allowed to interrogate witnesses or appear in courtrooms while wearing her headscarf.

Ms. Sandhu requested an explanation for the rule, and was told that religious clothing or symbols “can impair the trust in religious neutrality of the administration of justice”, reports in The Local say.

Judge Bernhard Röthinger ruled that Ms. Sandhu was right, and there was no legal basis for banning her from wearing religious dress at work.