Expert says school headscarf ban strips women of freedom

Swiss broadcaster SRF reports that Abduselam Halilovic, an Islamic studies scholar and president of the Interreligious Working Group in Switzerland, has sharply criticised proposals for banning headscarves in schools. He called the measure a “discriminatory” supposed solution that would solve no problems and create new ones.

Halilovic said a ban would not address possible coercion. Instead, it would specifically target Muslim girls and women. The right approach, he said, would be to create space for girls to participate freely in society, whether they wear a headscarf or not.

He rejected the argument that a ban would protect girls who are forced to wear one. Such a girl would come under even greater pressure, caught between family demands and school rules, he said. Genuine support would involve building a relationship with trusted people such as teachers or social workers who could help her find her own path.

Halilovic also disputed the idea that Muslim girls are generally forced to cover their hair while boys face no equivalent expectation. He said Switzerland’s Muslim population was highly diverse and that a large majority of Muslims would not support a child wearing a headscarf. When the issue arose, he said, it was usually during adolescence and remained an individual decision for women.

Asked about women in Iran burning headscarves in protest against an Islamic regime, Halilovic said the Iranian context could not be compared with Switzerland. In both cases, he said, freedom meant being able to decide how to dress. A state ban in Switzerland and a state requirement in Iran were both forms of government regulation of women’s clothing that deprived them of freedom of choice.

Halilovic said the debate reflected a growing distance from religion in society. As people’s connection to religion weakened, he said, critical attitudes towards religious ways of life increased. Visibility of religion and diversity in schools was important because everyday contact with women wearing and not wearing headscarves could help reduce prejudice and strengthen coexistence.

Halilovic is also a board member of the Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich, which represents around 80 percent of mosque communities in the canton. He has been president of the Interreligious Working Group in Switzerland since spring 2026.