Prague court begins case over student banned from wearing veil

A Prague court began on Wednesday a hearing into whether a local nursing school was within its powers when it banned two Muslim students from wearing a veil, the hijab. The court case, dating back to 2013, has been brought by one girl, a Somali who was given refuge in the Czech Republic in 2011. The other girl, an Afghan, did not take legal steps. Both girls later left the school. The girls were later supported by the Czech Ombudswoman, Anna Šabotová, who argued that the school acted in a discriminatory fashion. But the school director has been given backing of students and parents. The Somali girl is pressing for an apology from the school and damages amounting to 60,000 crowns.

Author: Chris Johnstone