The Central Council of Muslims files a complaint because of a rejected voter wearing a headscarf

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A voting booth in the federal election

Photo: Patrick Scheiber / imago images / Patrick Scheiber

In the case of a rejected voter wearing a headscarf, the Central Council of Muslims (ZMD) filed a criminal complaint with the Cologne public prosecutor's office.

The ZMD in Cologne announced that the complaint for insult, electoral obstruction and coercion was directed against unknown persons.

The situation at the polling station was "highly humiliating" for those affected.

In Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, an election worker rejected the woman, who was wearing a headscarf and face mask, in the federal election a week and a half ago. In the event of an "unfortunate incident", the district town then declared in a statement that she was initially denied the right to vote with reference to the prohibition of veiling. She was only able to cast her vote after the woman complained to the election control and received instructions from the town hall.

The city went on to say that the reason for the rejection of those eligible to vote was a "misjudgment".

"According to her own statement, the election worker assumed an inadmissible concealment, although the handling of possible concealment was expressly discussed during the election worker training," it said.

An Islamophobic, racist or discriminatory background could not be confirmed.

"We have taken legal steps to have this scandal investigated," said ZMD chairman Aiman ​​Mazyek.

The ZMD also called on the Bergheim administration to provide information on how, despite training courses for election workers, "such discriminatory, anti-Muslim and democratic behavior towards Muslim women could come about".

The city had already apologized for the "embarrassing incident" to the woman.

Mayor Volker Mießeler (CDU) spoke to her on the phone and arranged a personal meeting in the town hall.

"There is nothing to gloss over this extraordinary misjudgment, something like that simply shouldn't happen," said Mießeler.

mrc / AFP