Belgian judgment allows headscarf at schools

As all children are equal, no child was allowed to wear something that covered their hair (i.e. headgear) at a Flemish chain of schools. Now, a Belgian judge decided in favour of a girl who wants to wear a headscarf at school (or may be forced to do so by her parents). If this judgment is upheld by a higher court, than all children should be able to wear something on their head. This is known as the "principle of equality" to prevent discrimination, just as this principle was used to justify the prohibition of wearing headgear or more general any religious symbol by all children.

Indeed, a society should not allow that only a section of society (such as a religious group) is not allowed to do something as that is discrimination. But equally, when a section of society is allowed to do something than the whole society should be able to do so or the "principle of equality" is not respected.

Thus, either 

1. the rule is that no-one is allowed to cover the head unless in special cases such as in winter when it freezes or for medical reasons and thus no-one is favoured, including not for religious reasons or 
2. everyone can cover their hair to exclude that certain children who want to wear headgear such as a baseball hat feel discriminated unless the hat blocks the view of others in the class (know children, some may wear something big).

Headwear, worn throughout history in different shapes and sizes. Indeed, today the headscarf is criticised when worn by Muslim women while also Maria, mother of Christianity, very likely worn this. Similar for the kippah, worn by Jews and Christian bishops although both hatred each other one or another moment throughout history.

I'm sure this judgement will be discussed in society as headscarves are still seen as a religious symbol and very likely for this reason accepted by the judge. But for many, it is the symbol of a foreign religion that wants to destroy Christianity, about people who refuse to integrate. If the decision is taken by the judge for religious reasons, than this should apply for all religious symbols and thus all these symbols should be acceptable to prevent that some children and their parents feel discriminated and will complain that certain people have more rights than them and thus anger some. Indeed, a judgment with potentially big consequences.

Personal thought 

Personally I'm not against religious symbols such as headscarves, crosses and kippah as long as those who wear them don't try to convert and thus bother other people with their religion or they become a nuisance. 

Further, for many these symbols have little to do with religion but are considered accessories that are used for beauty reasons. 

I also think that in a multicultural society people can wear what they wish within reason unless in certain circumstances when they work in certain environments such as a laboratory. When people can wear what they prefer than there are in general less tensions between people than when one group wants to block the other from dressing in a certain way. I still remember while I worked at a London college how one lecturer/scientist was Sikh and wore a turban while others were Muslims of whom some wore headscarves and even long dresses. Further, some Christians but for instance also hip hop artists wear a cross while some Jews a kippah. As long as people don't bother to tell others what they should or can't wear and people don't judge other people's lifestyles (although excesses are possible), than what is the problem? Or no-one should be allowed to wear any symbol as the chain of schools decided for all its schools while a judge disagreed and this in agreement with a similar case before the European Court of Human rights that ruled that Muslim women can wear a headscarf when they enter a courthouse. And why should the only acceptable dress code be a Western suit with tie with short cut hair? In a multicultural society a large variety of ways to dress should be possible. But, unfortunately, some people wear religious symbols because they don't mind to provoke and think they are superior than other people.

Face-covering clothes naturally not allowed 

Of course and I already explained my opinion before, covering the face is never acceptable, not only for safety reasons (terrorists and thieves would love to be unrecognisable) but also for the sake of showing respect towards other people. I even find it strange to talk to mirror sun glasses as it seems people want to hide their expression for others. But even here, what with carnival when many people wear masks? Always special cases to be discovered in society.