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Government Offices in E.U. Can Ban Wearing of Religious Symbols | Government Offices in E.U. Can Ban Wearing of Religious Symbols |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Workers can be barred from wearing religious garb, such as head scarves, in the offices of public administrations, a European Union court ruled on Tuesday, tapping into a charged debate in Europe about expressions of faith in public institutions. | Workers can be barred from wearing religious garb, such as head scarves, in the offices of public administrations, a European Union court ruled on Tuesday, tapping into a charged debate in Europe about expressions of faith in public institutions. |
The decision came after a Muslim woman who worked for the Belgian municipality of Ans was told she could not wear a head scarf on the job. She sued her employer, alleging that her right to religious freedom had been violated. | The decision came after a Muslim woman who worked for the Belgian municipality of Ans was told she could not wear a head scarf on the job. She sued her employer, alleging that her right to religious freedom had been violated. |
The Court of Justice of the European Union had previously ruled that employers could bar workers who interact with clients from wearing religious symbols. But in this case, the woman had little interaction with the public in her role. | The Court of Justice of the European Union had previously ruled that employers could bar workers who interact with clients from wearing religious symbols. But in this case, the woman had little interaction with the public in her role. |
The court said the employer’s decision was lawful, effectively allowing public administrations to ban head scarves and other religious symbols from their workplaces for any worker, regardless of whether their employees have contact with the public. | The court said the employer’s decision was lawful, effectively allowing public administrations to ban head scarves and other religious symbols from their workplaces for any worker, regardless of whether their employees have contact with the public. |
As an interpretation of European Union law, the decision could have effects that go beyond Belgium’s borders. Muslim groups, already concerned over the treatment of Muslims in Europe, expressed worry that it might enable employers to further marginalize Muslim women in the workplace. | As an interpretation of European Union law, the decision could have effects that go beyond Belgium’s borders. Muslim groups, already concerned over the treatment of Muslims in Europe, expressed worry that it might enable employers to further marginalize Muslim women in the workplace. |
Here is what we know about the case. | Here is what we know about the case. |
In 2021, an employee of the Ans municipality asked to wear a head scarf at work, according to court documents, which do not name the woman. | In 2021, an employee of the Ans municipality asked to wear a head scarf at work, according to court documents, which do not name the woman. |