Belgium: Dismissal of Muslim teacher over refusal to remove hijab sparks legal and union debate

Belgium: Dismissal of Muslim teacher over refusal to remove hijab sparks legal and union debate
———————————————-
The dismissal of Muslim teacher Hudayfa Amajoud by authorities in Belgium’s East Flanders province has sparked renewed debate over religious freedom, workplace rights, and the application of neutrality rules in public education.

Amajoud confirmed to Belgian news agency Belga that the province ended her employment after she refused to remove her hijab during working hours. The Flemish socialist education union ACOD announced that it would challenge the decision before the Appeals Chamber in Brussels.

Amajoud began working in the province’s education sector on September 1, 2022, as a teacher at Kiempunt Campus, a specialized primary education institution in Assenede. She received a permanent appointment in early 2024.

According to Amajoud, she had worn the hijab since the beginning of her employment and had not received any negative professional evaluations. However, the situation changed after East Flanders amended its staff regulations in June 2024.

The new rules, which came into force in September 2024, prohibit visible religious and philosophical symbols among employees, with an exception for teachers whose subjects are directly related to religious or philosophical education.

Amajoud argued that the dismissal affected not only her employment but also her income, job security, and permanent appointment. She said the case raises broader questions about the extent to which employers can restrict employees’ personal freedoms.

Provincial authorities defended the decision, saying it was based on the neutrality rules applied within their education network. The regulations also include restrictions on visible religious symbols worn by students.

ACOD representative Christophe Breuland said the union would continue to oppose the dismissal through available legal channels, describing it as a significant case concerning the rights of teachers who wear religious symbols in the workplace.4