Abstract

This essay examines Germany's legislation and case law concerning religious-oriented attire. Although the visibility of Islam and, in particular, the building of mosques and the wearing of the Islamic headscarf (hijab) have raised a heated debate, there have been very few conflicts revolv- ing around the wearing of the burqa, unlike other European countries. In Germany, burqa remains a 'minor problem' both in case law (where this issue has not been dealt with for the moment) and in public debate (where people have expressed their scepticism about the anti-burqa laws approved in France and Belgium).