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The country’s ombudswoman, Anna Šabatová and her deputy, Stanislav Křeček, have expressed differing opinions in the case of two Muslim nursing school students last year who were banned from wearing the hijab headscarf in the classroom. The ombudswoman this week described the move as discriminatory. The school defended the ban on the grounds that any headwear in class was “antisocial”. The school’s principal contended the ban had not prevented the students, who since left the school, from practicing their religion. Deputy ombudsman Křeček said he viewed the school as within its rights to issue a ban, but he stressed that was his personal opinion as an independent lawyer. The school in question, meanwhile, has altered its policy, allowing the principal to make exceptions for religious students.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has expressed serious concern with regard to the deepening crisis in Ukraine. In a written statement published by the Office of the Government Mr. Sobotka said that if Kiev’s claim of a Russian invasion into Eastern Ukraine were proved true it would be another flagrant violation of international law by Moscow. Prime Minister Sobotka said he welcomed the fact that a special meeting of the European Council, scheduled for Saturday, would enable EU leaders to coordinate their stands and agree on an adequate response.

Police on Thursday released fresh details on the case of a woman who suffered an acid attack in Prague earlier this week. The woman was allegedly attacked by her ex-boyfriend whom she had broken up with shortly before the incident. It took the police some time to track the man down since he had been living with the woman under a false name. He has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm for which he could be sentenced to 12 years in prison. The woman remains in hospital in serious condition.

Several dozen people have signed an internet petition requesting a presidential pardon for the nurse who is said to have performed euthanasia on a terminally ill patient. Among the signatories are both people who claim to know her in person and complete strangers. The case has triggered a heated debate about euthanasia on social networks. The nurse who allegedly gave her patient a higher amount of drugs to assist her death, has been charged with murder. If convicted she would face a sentence of up to 18 years.