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Ban on Head Scarves at Work Is Legal, E.U. Court Rules

JANFU

JANFU

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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/world/europe/headscarves-ban-european-court.html?hp

LONDON — Employers are allowed to bar workers from wearing head scarves provided restrictions on religious garments are applied to employees of all faiths, the European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday, in a decision that could shape the place of Islam in public life on the Continent.

In its ruling, the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice said that internal regulations banning “the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign” did not constitute direct discrimination.

The court also said that, in the absence of a general ban on religious symbols, employers could not prevent a worker from wearing a head scarf simply because a customer demanded it.

The decision by the court comes as countries across Europe are grappling with how to accommodate huge numbers of migrants, many from predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and Asia. Nationalist, right-wing parties have seized on the issue of Muslim immigration to build support before elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
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Agree, disagree, opinions are?
 
Koke said:
When I'm at work, I'm not allowed to wear my baseball cap.

****ing xenophobic racists, don't allow me to use my baseball cap of choice and support the team I want.
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Which team?
 
JANFU said:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/world/europe/headscarves-ban-european-court.html?hp

Agree, disagree, opinions are?
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I find it absurd to act as though this were equality and not a Lex Islamis. First of all, I would like to see how it would apply to Jews in Germany. But the major point is that most religions do not prescribe the use of attire outside of their clergy. It is also unclear, whether a old Greek lady wearing traditional clothing with the head scarf could continue to wear it, while the Muslim lady with a hijab had to disrobe.

But the worst is that the government doesn't let private people make their own contracts and restricts itself to making them abide by them.
 
JANFU said:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/world/europe/headscarves-ban-european-court.html?hp


Agree, disagree, opinions are?
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As the wording shows, if an employer's ban on head scarves as a political and/or religious symbol extends to everyone else (Jewish Kippa, Christian crucifix necklace, Pastafarian noodles growing on the head :mrgreen: etc.), nothing wrong with any of it. Plus, also mentioned, the employee holding a position where contact with the public is a given (sales people, bank tellers etc.).

Even then, the employer has to make a valid case (just one customer or just a few complaining won't cut it).
 
Koke said:
When I'm at work, I'm not allowed to wear my baseball cap.

****ing xenophobic racists, don't allow me to use my baseball cap of choice and support the team I want.
Click to expand...
When I was working I was sorely tempted to make the one or other of my subordinates wear a (full body) burqa.

More often than not men.:mrgreen:
 
The claim (made) that the government doesn't let private people make their own contracts is idiotically absurd. Whole thing is a ruling from the European court, not from any government, not even from the EU itself.:roll:
 
Chagos said:
As the wording shows, if an employer's ban on head scarves as a political and/or religious symbol extends to everyone else (Jewish Kippa, Christian crucifix necklace, Pastafarian noodles growing on the head :mrgreen: etc.), nothing wrong with any of it. Plus, also mentioned, the employee holding a position where contact with the public is a given (sales people, bank tellers etc.).

Even then, the employer has to make a valid case (just one customer or just a few complaining won't cut it).
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I can see issues. But I am open to a good discussion.

These I would agree with banning as I see these as cultural.
View attachment 67215187
View attachment 67215188

These I do not see why a ban would be imposed. A simple head scarf??
View attachment 67215189

Then we have this where I see no reason why. Sikh Turbans, excepting those photos that have rather huge turbans??

https://www.google.com/search?q=bur...w=1093&bih=410#tbm=isch&q=sikh+tyrban+photo&*

Then we have this
Jewish women
https://www.google.com/search?q=jew...4tbSAhVD7WMKHdYLBlUQ_AUICSgC&biw=1093&bih=410

Jewish men, a Kippa
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As I said, if one is going to impose a ban (private or public employer) on religious or political symbols worn or carried, either ban them all or none. Singling out just one group is discrimination.

That's what the European court said as well.
 
This has been debated ad nauseum elselwhere but I think we have to ask ourselves this: if a gay person is being looked after by a doctor, nurse or care assistant in an Islamic headcarf might they fear being judged? (Rightly or wrongly, but the fear may be there) A woman having an abortion while a nurse's crucifix or St. Christopher is danglaing about over her head? Going to the lawyer who has a sacred heart of Jesus hung on his office wall, and you happen to be seeking a divorce?

I'm not sure it really matters if the woman on the till in Carrefour is wearing a headscarf or not, however, because it really does matter in sensitive areas like health care, social care, education, law etc. then I think we need a blanket ban in all workplaces. Be as neutral as possible. As long as people have the freedom to practise their religion privately, why would anybody want to make such public statements in the workplace?

I am all for this ban. It does not attack personal freedom or liberty to practise. I have many female muslim colleagues. None of them are veiled and it doesn't pose them any problem.
 
joG said:
I find it absurd to act as though this were equality and not a Lex Islamis. First of all, I would like to see how it would apply to Jews in Germany. But the major point is that most religions do not prescribe the use of attire outside of their clergy. It is also unclear, whether a old Greek lady wearing traditional clothing with the head scarf could continue to wear it, while the Muslim lady with a hijab had to disrobe.

But the worst is that the government doesn't let private people make their own contracts and restricts itself to making them abide by them.
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What private contracts are you talking about?
 
I have no issue with a religious symbols ban for all functions inside a company where contact with the public/customers is a common thing, but that does mean all religions symbols, no jewish head wear, no muslim head scarf, no visible crosses, etc. etc. etc.

What is fair is fair and as said, as long as it does not single out a religious group, more power to the EU/companies.
 
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