Tuesday, January 28
Niqab ban: Berlin court rules Muslim woman cannot drive wearing veil
On Monday, an administrative court in Berlin ruled against a 33-year-old Muslim mother of three, denying her request for an exemption that would allow her to drive while wearing a face veil. The judges justified their decision by stating that anyone driving a car must be identifiable.
The woman, who converted to Islam in 2016, argued that the prohibition violated her fundamental rights. She wished to drive while wearing a niqab, a garment that covers the entire face except the eyes. In court, the plaintiff argued that she should have the right to decide who could see her face, claiming this right should be protected under freedom of religion. The judges disagreed, stating that granting such an exception would not comply with road safety laws and would complicate the enforcement of traffic violations, especially those detected by automated traffic cameras.
According to Germany’s Road Traffic Act, drivers are not permitted to cover their face while operating a motor vehicle. Other courts in Germany have also ruled on the issue of Islamic face coverings, consistently rejecting any exemption on religious grounds.
