Swedish court OVERTURNS Staffanstorp schoolgirl hijab ban, saying it denies ... trends now
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Sweden's Supreme Court has reversed the schoolgirl headscarf ban passed by the municipality of Staffanstorp in 2019, arguing that it contravenes freedom of expression laws.
Staffanstorp, in the county of Skåne, southern Sweden, where the Moderates rule in coalition with the far-right Sweden Democrats, wanted to bar children from wearing headscarves in preschools and primary schools up to year six, effectively banning children under 12.
In Skurup, another municipality run by the Sweden Democrats, politicians had pushed for a ban for children and staff in preschools and primary schools.
Parliament has previously shut down proposals banning headscarves.
The Supreme Court instead used Sweden's freedom of expression law to back up its ruling, stating that expressions of religious affiliation, such as clothing, are covered by this
The parliament's committee on the constitution has said that it has no plans for legislation banning the item of clothing, either for children in particular schools or in wider society.
Both Skåne municipalities have been pursuing the headscarf issue for several years.
In a previous decision, the Administrative Court said the headscarf ban the two municipalities wanted to implement contravenes both the European Convention on Human Rights and protections on religious freedom under
