Brussels’ Muslim teachers fired over Hijab lose appeal

The council of appeal of Brussels’ public education system ruled that two Muslim teachers were legally fired for wearing the Islamic headscarf, Expatica reported.

The two Muslim teachers were fired last month after the education system warned them against wearing the hijab, officials said.

Brussels Education Minister Guy Vanhengel backed the education system’s decision, and Flemish Education Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said schools are free to decide whether to ban the Islamic headscarf or not.

The two women then fought their dismissal in the council of appeal, which is made up of a magistrate, backed by two public school staff members who aren’t part of the Brussels school group.

The general director of the Brussels school group, Jacky Goris, announced that the teachers lost their appeal.

The ruling has also been confirmed by the lawyers representing the two women.

The Islamic headscarf is meant to cover a Muslim woman’s hair, neck, throat and the upper part of her chest to protect her from the eyes of men outside her family.

But the Hijab isn’t just about clothing, it is mainly to preserve women’s dignity and honor. In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) instructs his followers on how to behave towards each other by saying in Surat An-Nur that all Muslim men and women should “lower the gaze”. Therefore, ordering a Muslim woman to remove her Hijab is like asking her to ignore one of her key religious obligations.

Unfortunately, the Hijab has been the subject of heated debate in several European countries for more than a decade. Several European states have banned Muslim civil servants, teachers and students from wearing the headscarf.

However, many Muslims in Europe succeeded in integrating themselves into their societies, while preserving their Islamic values and identities - following the basic governing Islamic rule in the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims: peaceful co-existence. The hard work has led to the recognition of Muslims in many European states, which has seen many Muslims entering the political process.