Brussels Court Rules Veil Ban in Higher Education Discriminatory

The French-speaking Court of First Instance of Brussels handed down a decision on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 in favor of the students of the Francisco Ferrer Higher Education Institute who had sued the city of Brussels for banning the wearing of the veil in the establishment.

"In its judgment, the French-speaking Court of First Instance of Brussels recognizes the discriminatory nature of the article of the regulations prohibiting the wearing of all conviction symbols, and orders the cessation of this discrimination," reports the collective Les 100 Diplômées on its Facebook page. A decision that brings "relief" and "indescribable joy" to the members of the collective.

In January, Julien Nicaise, general administrator of WBE, of the board of directors of the organizing authority and the management of the higher education institutes, higher art schools and institutes of social promotion education under this organizing authority, had taken a measure authorizing students enrolled in higher education or social promotion institutions under the supervision of Wallonia-Brussels Education to display conviction symbols including the veil. This measure has been in effect since September 2021.