Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
Berlin court upholds school ban on visible Muslim prayers
A Berlin administrative court upheld a ban on visible religious rituals at Diesterweg-Gymnasium, a school in the German capital.
The rule mainly affects devout Muslim students who want to perform the required daily prayers during the school day.
The court said the school had faced serious conflicts over religion, including pressure on classmates to follow religious practices and insults directed at girls who did not wear headscarves.
It found that allowing visible prayers could increase tensions and put orderly teaching and school peace at risk.
The court also said a separate prayer room was not a workable answer because the school lacked space and enough staff to supervise it.
The Society for Civil Rights brought the case, arguing that the rule violated Berlin’s anti-discrimination law.
The ruling is not yet legally final.
A Berlin administrative court upheld a school’s ban on visibly performing religious rituals, including Muslim prayers.
The court said the ban was necessary to protect peace at the school amid serious religious conflicts.
It cited reports of pressure on pupils to follow certain religious practices, attempts to persuade pupils to convert, and insults directed at girls who did not wear headscarves.
The court acknowledged that the ban primarily affects Muslim pupils who wish to perform their obligatory prayers during the school day.
The ruling is not yet legally binding.
- Who
- The Berlin Administrative Court ruled on a challenge brought by the Society for Civil Liberties.
- What
- The court upheld the Diesterweg-Gymnasium’s ban on the demonstrative practice of religious rituals, including visible Muslim prayers.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 16, 2026. The article does not state when the court issued it.
- Where
- Diesterweg-Gymnasium in Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- The court said visible prayers could increase existing religious tensions and threaten peace at the school.
Society for Civil Liberties
Berlin Administrative Court and Diesterweg-Gymnasium
Ban's legality
Society for Civil Liberties
The Society for Civil Liberties argued that the school rule violated Berlin’s State Anti-Discrimination Act.
Berlin Administrative Court and Diesterweg-Gymnasium
The court ruled that the ban was lawful and necessary to protect peace at the school.
Impact on Muslim pupils
Society for Civil Liberties
The organization challenged a rule that particularly affects Muslim pupils who want to pray during the school day.
Berlin Administrative Court and Diesterweg-Gymnasium
The court acknowledged that the ban primarily affects Muslims but said visible prayer could increase existing conflict.
The court found that religious conflicts at the school included pressure on pupils, attempts to persuade pupils to convert, and insults toward girls who did not wear headscarves.
Bild reported that the Berlin Administrative Court had upheld the school’s ban.
The decision was not yet legally binding.
- School
- Diesterweg-Gymnasium
- Court
- Berlin Administrative Court
- Challenger
- Society for Civil Liberties (GFF)
- Ruling status
- Not yet legally binding
- Affected group
- The ban primarily affects Muslim pupils who wish to pray during the school day.
What people are saying
serious conflicts with a religious background
demonstrative practice of religious rituals