A Bavarian court on Monday upheld a ban on female teachers wearing headscarves in state schools in the conservative German region in a decision Muslim groups and opposition lawmakers said contravened anti-discrimination rules.

The Bavarian constitutional court in Munich rejected a complaint filed by a Berlin-based Islamic group against the ban, which was introduced in late 2004 by the Christian Social Union (CSU)-ruled government.

The group said the measure was aimed exclusively at Muslims as Christian nuns wearing habits during lessons were exempt.

"As part of its role in supervising schools, the legislator can set rules about how far the wearing of external symbols and clothing which have a religious or ideological symbolism in lessons is prohibited," Judge Karl Huber said. [Link]