Art historians should enjoy this case.
It was about the choice of motif for a tattoo fan - who also wants to go to the police force.
Düsseldorf - An applicant for the police service in North Rhine-Westphalia may not be rejected because of a skull tattoo.
The administrative court in Düsseldorf decided on Tuesday that his application should not be rejected on the grounds that the motive suggests an attitude that glorifies violence.
The police applicant had tattooed other motifs on his upper arm, such as an angel and a dove of peace, which offered no clues to glorify violence.
Tattoo verdict in NRW: Angels, doves of peace and eyes soften the skull
A tattoo can give rise to doubts about the suitability of an applicant's character, for example if this is not compatible with the free democratic basic order.
However, that depends on the tattooed motif, the "embedding in a possible image program" and the motives for the tattoo.
In the applicant's case, the appointing authority argued that the teeth in the skull's jaw were "oversized" and therefore frightening.
Cracks in the skull also indicated violence.
The court came to a different conclusion.
On the applicant's upper arm, in addition to the skull and skeleton, an angel, a dove of peace and an eye are depicted.
Together, the motifs stand for values and properties that are "of particular importance" for his life, he explained.
The angel stands for protection and security.
The skeleton with an hourglass symbolizes human transience and is a reminder to use one's lifetime sensibly.
The court obliged the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to temporarily place the man in the preparatory service for the police force.
An appeal against the decision is possible at the North Rhine-Westphalian Higher Administrative Court in Münster.
(AFP / frs)