Facts
A. came to Switzerland from Turkey in 1981 and filed a naturalization application in the municipality of Buchs. The municipal council recommended naturalization, as A. had made a good impression and was well integrated. However, the municipal parliament (Einwohnerrat) rejected the application, as A. wore a headscarf, which was seen as an expression of the subordination of women to men. A. then filed a subsidiary constitutional appeal with the Federal Court.Considerations
The Federal Court upheld the appeal. It stated that the wearing of a headscarf as an expression of a religious belief falls under the protection of freedom of belief and conscience under Art. 15 of the Federal Constitution. The decision of the municipal parliament, which was based solely on this…