Possibly one of the most important decisions in the European headscarf debate came in June 2004, at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France. Regarding the case of a Turkish student, Leyla Sahin, barred from attending Istanbul University medical school wearing a headscarf, the ECHR ruled that the Turkish ban on headscarves is not a violation of freedom of religion, but is instead a valid way to counter Islamic fundamentalism. The decision stated that such a ban, when issued in the name of the separation of church and state, is necessary in a democratic society, particularly if the state is under threat from extremist political movements. This ruling is expected to have broad implications for similar cases throughout Europe, since ECHR decisions take precedence over national courts. Within Turkey, the decision was a blow to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had been working to lift the ban on headscarves. The decision is also expected to have an important impact in countries like Germany and France, which have passed headscarf bans, and are expecting legal challenges at the start of school this autumn.