EU states can ban religious symbols in public workplaces

Source: BBC

EU states can ban religious symbols in public workplaces

28 November 2023

By Lipika Pelham
BBC News

The top European Union court has ruled that member states can prohibit their employees from wearing signs of religious belief.

The Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling came after a Belgian woman alleged the local municipality where she worked had infringed her religious freedom by telling her she couldn't wear a hijab.

The court added such measures must be limited to what is strictly necessary.

The issue of the Islamic headscarf has divided Europe for years.

In 2021 the court ruled that women could be fired from their jobs for refusing to remove their hijab if they work in a job that deals with the public.

The latest case arrived at the court after a Muslim employee of the eastern Belgian municipality of Ans was told she could not wear a headscarf at work.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67553959