The debate over religious expression in Germany’s public institutions took a new turn on Thursday as the Green Party in Berlin renewed its demand for the repeal of the controversial Neutrality Act, describing it as discriminatory, particularly against Muslim women who wear the hijab. The party maintained that the existing law has become a barrier preventing qualified individuals from pursuing careers in the civil service simply because of their religious identity.
The Neutrality Act, enacted in 2005, prohibits public servants in Berlin from wearing visible religious symbols, including the hijab, yarmulka, or other faith-based attire, while on duty. Although promoted as a means of maintaining religious and ideological neutrality within state institutions, the law has repeatedly come under fire for what critics say is selective enforcement and underlying bias.
Tuba Bozkurt, who speaks on anti-discrimination issues for the Green Party in the Berlin State Parliament, stated that the law is incompatible with Berlin’s multicultural reality and unfairly excludes Muslim women from full participation in the public sector. She pointed out that while Jewish men are barred from wearing a yarmulka under the law, the display of Christian crucifixes is still permitted in certain contexts—a contradiction that, according to her, further exposes the law’s inherent inconsistencies.
Bozkurt argued that allowing female police officers to wear the hijab would not only promote religious inclusion but would also reflect the true diversity of Berlin’s population. “Muslim women who wear the hijab are already a part of our society. It is time our public institutions—our streets, our schools, our police departments—begin to mirror that reality,” she said.
Supporters of the Neutrality Act, however, defend it as a crucial safeguard for maintaining the secular nature of public service. They insist that the measure is not targeted at any particular religion but aims to preserve the ideological neutrality of government institutions. According to them, public servants must not convey religious affiliation while performing official duties to ensure fairness, impartiality, and public trust in state operations.
The hijab, worn by many Muslim women around the world, holds deep religious, cultural, and social significance. It is regarded as an expression of modesty, spiritual devotion, and personal identity. For many wearers, the hijab is a symbol of empowerment and moral strength, reflecting a conscious choice to uphold certain values. In several communities, it is also seen as a shield that promotes dignity, privacy, and respect.
Yet, in many Western contexts, the hijab continues to provoke heated debate and is often misrepresented as a tool of oppression. Analysts argue that such interpretations overlook the voices and lived experiences of the women who choose to wear it. Furthermore, critics say the hijab is frequently weaponised in political rhetoric to justify exclusionary or even repressive policies against Muslim-majority nations and communities.
The Green Party’s renewed push to overturn the Neutrality Act has reignited this broader conversation in Germany, with many calling for reforms that align with the country’s evolving social fabric. As Berlin becomes increasingly diverse, the issue of whether its laws reflect that diversity remains at the heart of ongoing political and public discourse.
