Belgian Teacher Fired for Refusing to Remove Hijab, Union Vows Appeal

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Flanders East Provincial Government in Belgium has dismissed a teacher for non-compliance with what it termed a ban on religious symbols in schools. A labor union has declared its intention to protest this decision.

Khadija Amjoud, a teacher at a special needs school in the city of Assenede, who had been teaching with her hijab since 2022, faced disciplinary proceedings and eventual dismissal after stating her refusal to remove her headscarf while teaching.

The labor union plans to contest this decision at the Brussels appeals division, asserting that the case could establish a significant precedent concerning religious freedom and neutrality in education.

Amjoud described the provincial government’s interpretation of neutrality as “entirely political,” arguing that every teacher brings their personal beliefs into the classroom.

Regulations implemented at the start of the current academic year in Belgium prohibit the use of symbols, insignia, or attire that express political or religious beliefs for teachers and students in provincial schools. The Belgian Council of State had previously rejected a complaint filed in May by six students and several organizations against these regulations.