Religious Freedom in Berliner Schools

Zeit Online: Religionsfreiheit siegt über neutralen Staat

October 29, 2009

A recent decision in the Berlin-Wedding school district will allow a sixteen-year-old Muslim student to pray while at school. At the end of April 2009 a referendum was held to vote on Initiative Pro Reli, which would have mandated religion as a part of the Berlin regional curriculum. The initiative was rejected, however, thus maintaining a separation of religion and education. Now debates flair as critics deem this verdict a violation of religious neutrality in schools. Proponents for the freedom of practice argue that every person has a guaranteed right to practice his or her religion, as long as this practice does not interfere with others; hence the student does have the right to practice his religion while at school.