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EU Court Rules Workers Can be Banned from Wearing Religious Symbols

Veronica Neffinger

Europe’s top court has ruled that workers can be prohibited from wearing any kind of religious symbol to work.

According to Christian Today, the European Court of Justice took on a case of a woman who alleged she was fired from her job as a receptionist at a security company in Belgium due to religious discrimination, and specifically, her wearing of a hijab.

The court, however, ruled that the company did not discriminate against the woman by taking issue with her wearing of a hijab to work.

“An internal rule of an undertaking which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination," read a statement from the court.

Although the decision was a response to alleged Muslim discrimination, the ruling also affects those of other religions, including Christians.

The court said that, as long as a company bans all religious symbols, it is not an example of religious discrimination.

“The rule thus treats all employees to the undertaking in the same way, notably by requiring them, generally and without any differentiation, to dress neutrally,” a court statement said, in reference to the security company in Belgium.

 

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: March 14, 2017