Belgian Court Overturns Ban on Sikh Headcovering in School

July 1, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: UNITED SIKHS Press Release

http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-01-07-2008-00.htm

The Hasselt Civil Court overturned today a ban on the patka, a Sikh head covering, which was imposed by a state school, KTA Domein Speelhof, on five Sikh schoolboys since 2005.

The court said that the ban on the religious head covering was a violation of the Sikh students' right to manifest their religion under article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Belgium is a signatory.

In a judgment handed down today, Judge Madam H. Coenen said that by excluding young people because of their religious beliefs the Domein Speelhof school in St Truiden had violated their right to practice their faith.