1 - 2004

Religious diversity in Germany

Ban the Head Scarf

by Hakki Keskin

Allowing teachers to wear the head scarf in school would mean giving them the right to dress as missionaries. This problem cannot be solved with regard to one particular religion alone. It is understandable that church circles in Germany want to defend, what has historically been theirs, and that Christian politicians want to defend their Christian values.

But this must be brought into line with the state precepts of religious neutrality and of equality. Both these principles are basic values of constitutional law which, in an enlightened democratic society, are not at the disposition of particular interests. Germany’s constitution is value-free with regard to religion – it does not give preference to any religion. The reality is that German society is multi-religious.

Those who criticise President Rau, in the so-called head scarf debate, are denying the religious plurality in Germany. This dispute over the missionary symbols of religious groups has caught Germany unprepared. Those who reduce the discussion to defending, what has traditionally been theirs, and Christian values, are "Christianizing” the discussion and discriminating Islam, a world religion.

They are hindering the integration of Islamic population groups into the society, and threatening the peace within Germany. False understandings of liberality and tolerance lead the Islamists, who are looking to achieve political goals rather than religious persuasion, to continue making demands. They are already calling today for separate sports and swimming lessons for boys and girls. Germany’s schools should not be places where religious conflicts are fought out. Instead they must take up a neutral position, without any ifs, buts or ands, and maintain it without compromise.

Prof. Dr. Hakki Keskin is national President of the Turkish Community in Germany. This statement was published in the weekly newspaper Junge Freiheit (Young Freedom), No. 03/04, 9 January 2004.