German Court Says Muslim Student Must Have In-School Place For Prayer

Yesterday's Deutsche Welle reports that educators in Germany are hotly debating a March 10 decision by a Berlin administrative court which held that Diesterweg Upper School must provide a 14-year-old Muslim student with a place for his daily prayers. Relying on the protection of freedom of religion in Germany's Basic Law (Art. 4), the judge in expedited proceedings said that the prayers had to take place outside of class time, but space on school grounds needed to be made available. Judgments in expedited proceedings are temporary pending a full court hearing. No full hearing date has yet been scheduled. Educators opposed to the ruling say that it conflicts with German law that keep public institutions religiously neutral.