Logroño Administrative Court finds school violated a student’s constitutional freedom after banning her hijab
An administrative court in Logroño, in the northern Spanish region of La Rioja, has ruled that prohibiting a Muslim student from wearing her hijab at school violated her constitutional right to freedom of religion. The decision, handed down in late January 2026, highlights the tension between local school rules and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Spanish Constitution.
Background: A Student Barred from Class
On September 15, 2025, a 17-year-old Muslim girl — enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Práxedes Mateo Sagasta Institute in Logroño — was stopped from entering class because she refused to remove her hijab. The school, the only one in La Rioja offering the IB program, cited its internal dress code banning “caps, hats, hoods and similar items” inside the building.
After her request to wear her hijab was refused, she was temporarily excluded from classes and ultimately returned to school without it so she could continue her studies.
The Court’s Ruling: Religious Freedom Upheld
Administrative Court No. 2 of Logroño ruled partially in the student’s favor, rejecting the school’s argument that the hijab was equivalent to casual head coverings like baseball caps or hoods. The judge called that interpretation “overly simplistic, superficial and inappropriate” and emphasized that the hijab is a visible expression of religious belief — not merely a piece of clothing.
The court noted there are no valid public-order grounds under Spanish law to justify limiting this right and warned that treating religious dress the same as sportswear could lead to absurd outcomes — such as banning head coverings worn for medical or other religious reasons.
Compensation and Legal Options
The school was ordered to pay the student €2,000 in moral damages, significantly less than the roughly €45,000 she had sought. The ruling is not final and can be appealed before the High Court of Justice of La Rioja.
The court also stressed that while educational institutions have autonomy to set internal regulations, this autonomy must respect constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms.
Community Reaction and Broader Debate
Following the incident, fellow students organized protests in support of their classmate, describing the hijab ban as a violation of the right to education and freedom of religious expression.
Spain’s Constitution guarantees freedom of belief and religion. However, disputes over the use of religious symbols — particularly Islamic headscarves — in public institutions, and especially in schools, continue to spark debate across the country.
From: Muslimnetwork