What does freedom of religion mean as far as the wearing of headscarves is concerned?
M.S.: That is a difficult question. The Council is convinced that there are no easy answers. One must look at it on a case by case basis. A current example is a female basketball player in Lucerne who can no longer play due to a headscarf ban in the league. The question has to be asked: what does freedom of religion mean in sport? The Council of Religions is of the opinion that the right of individuals to be allowed to express their religious convictions is also protected in public life. One can debate whether limits should already be placed on this right at the sport club level. The Council of Religions is convinced that religious peace can only be guaranteed if the state is religiously neutral if it has no religious denomination of its own. That’s why it’s clear that religious freedom can be restricted, for example, if a believer is in the service of the state. The Council understands when, for instance, individual rights of teachers at public schools are restricted. Only in this way
M.S.: That is a difficult question. The Council is convinced that there are no easy answers. One must look at it on a case by case basis. A current example is a female basketball player in Lucerne who can no longer play due to a headscarf ban in the league. The question has to be asked: what does freedom of religion mean in sport? The Council of Religions is of the opinion that the right of individuals to be allowed to express their religious convictions is also protected in public life. One can debate whether limits should already be placed on this right at the sport club level. The Council of Religions is convinced that religious peace can only be guaranteed if the state is religiously neutral if it has no religious denomination of its own. That’s why it’s clear that religious freedom can be restricted, for example, if a believer is in the service of the state. The Council understands when, for instance, individual rights of teachers at public schools are restricted. Only in this way
