Pernille reminds me of a common way of thought I have often during the past years had the impression I can corroborate also for discussions on such topics in Germany: our very un-scientific and frequently stereotyped approach to dealing with difference of appearance that we often transfer to a supposed difference in behaviour.

I have to admit that the very point of the idea to ban a teacher, judge or anyone else in public service from wearing religious symbols either on the grounds of such well-known concepts as laicité or moral intentions of any kind has been a mystery to me. In many places where particularly the discussion leading to decisions lacks the necessary clarity this seems to me more a question of homophily than any well-reasoned approach to protect whomever from whatever exactly.

In 2003, shortly before the outbreak of the Iraq war, the then-French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin stated: “Il faut prendre le risque de la paix” meaning essentially that it is not advisable to settle some “issues” by preemptively and supposedly out of good intentions using force to create a state of affairs that was - again, supposedly - better. I would say that the essence of this phrase can also be applied to the cases I and Pernille are talking about: it is dangerous to mold assumptions we have about someone based on appearance or - worse - the news into actions, even if the intentions are well-meaning.

Take the veil off our own undeclared assumptions. Just as some risks have to be taken people have to be taken seriously.