The Province of East Flanders has dismissed teacher Hadija Amajoud for failing to comply with a regulation banning religious symbols in its schools.
Amajoud had been teaching at a special education school in Assenede since 2022 and was wearing a headscarf when she started the job. After she announced that she would not remove it during lessons, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against her, followed by a decision to dismiss her.
Ban took effect at the start of the school year
The Province of East Flanders said the decision resulted from its obligation to enforce staff regulations approved through a democratic process.
A ban on religious and political symbols has been in force at all schools operated by the provincial administration since the start of the current school year. The regulation does not allow teachers or students to wear badges, symbols or clothing expressing political or religious views.
ACOD to appeal the decision
The ACOD trade union announced plans to take the decision to dismiss Amajoud to the Appeals Chamber in Brussels. The union said the case could set an important precedent in debates over freedom of religion and neutrality in education.
Amajoud questioned the limits of an employer’s authority to restrict a teacher’s personal freedom. Describing the provincial administration’s understanding of neutrality as “entirely political,” Amajoud said that no one was completely neutral and that every teacher entered the classroom with their own views.
Challenge to regulation rejected
Six students and several organizations challenged the regulation before Belgium’s Council of State. However, the court ruled against the challengers in May.
The Flemish Human Rights Institute had previously found discrimination and harassment in Amajoud’s case.
