Nine schools in East Flanders will apply a regime of religious neutrality from the 2026-2027 school year. The decision was challenged in court by six students and three non-governmental organizations, but the Council of State rejected the request for suspension. Proponents of the ban argue that a neutral school environment is necessary, while critics speak of “structural exclusion” of Muslim girls.

(Staff: Belgium / Education & Society)

Starting on September 1, 2026, nine provincial secondary schools in East Flanders will introduce a regime of religious and political neutrality. The new regulation prohibits students and teaching staff from wearing “signs, symbols or clothing expressing a religious, ideological or political conviction”. The ban explicitly targets Islamic headscarves, but also crucifixes, kippahs and party badges.

A Long Road to the Ban

The proposal was initially approved by the Provincial Council of East Flanders in April 2025, with the intention of bringing it into force in September 2025. However, Flemish Minister of the Interior Hilde Crevits (CD&V) annulled the decision because of a procedural error. The province did not challenge the annulment, but announced that it would reintroduce the proposal for the following school year.

In December 2025, the new regulation was adopted by a wider majority – this time, the coalition partner voted in favor. Six students from the Richtpunt Campus in Ghent and three non-governmental organizations challenged the decision before the Council of State, citing violations of the right to education, freedom of religion and the principle of equality. In May 2026, the Council of State rejected the request for suspension, considering that there was no urgent need and that students could find educational alternatives at other schools. The substantive proceedings concerning the legality of the ban are still ongoing.

Supporters’ arguments: neutrality and democratic values

First Deputy Kurt Moens (N-VA) defends the measure as a matter of school neutrality. “Society is diverse; that is the reality. We must manage this reality in an appropriate way. Therefore, we consider it important to focus on what unites us: our democratic values and what we have achieved in the West,” he said.. Moens pointed out that the ban applies to everyone – both students and teachers – and that the aim is to create a school environment where every student can develop freely without pressure.

Criticism: “Structural Exclusion” of Muslim Girls

Organizations opposing the ban, including the “My School, My Choice” initiative (Mijn School, Mijn Keuze) and feminist groups, consider the measure discriminatory. “A headscarf ban is not a neutral measure, but a decision that, in practice, leads to the structural exclusion of Muslim girls from the education system. They are forced to choose between education and identity,” said Nadia El Omari.

Lawyer Timo Lehaen, who represents the students, pointed out that four of the six students are in their final year of secondary school and cannot continue their studies elsewhere. “For at least two of the students, there is no alternative. They are referred to a school in Zottegem where, in theory, there is no ban, but in practice the ban applies,” he explained.

A study conducted by KU Leuven student Samia Bachiri showed that young Muslim women perceive the ban as a form of exclusion. “A ban on the headscarf gives them exactly the feeling of being excluded. It is unacceptable that, every day, at school, during a job interview or at work, we have to choose between education or employment and the headscarf or our identity.”

A Ban That Raises Fundamental Questions

The ban on headscarves in schools in East Flanders brings back to the fore a wider debate about the place of religious symbols in public space and the balance between the neutrality of state institutions and individual rights. As the proceedings on the merits continue, it remains to be seen whether the Belgian courts will ultimately uphold this measure or find that it violates the fundamental rights of the students.