TURKEY SLAMS TOP EU COURT ON HEADSCARF BAN

Sun 18 July 2021:

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described a ruling by a top EU court allowing companies to ban hijabs in the workplace a violation of freedom of religion and a manifestation of intolerance toward Muslims.

The Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled on Thursday that companies in the bloc can ban employees from wearing a headscarf under certain conditions, if they need to do so to project an image of neutrality to customers.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement the ruling was a sign of rising Islamophobia at a time when it said Muslim women in Europe are being subjected to increasing discrimination for their religious beliefs.

It is unbelievable that fascism just spread to the courts.

This wrong decision is an attempt to grant legitimacy to racism.

Instead of denouncing its dark past, Europe now seeks to embrace it.

We condemn this ruling, which infringes on human dignity. https://t.co/dB68YpdL83

— Fahrettin Altun (@fahrettinaltun) July 17, 2021

“The CJEU decision, at a time when the Islamophobia, racism and hatred that have taken Europe hostage are rising, disregards religious freedom and creates a basis and legal cover for discrimination,” the ministry said.

On Saturday, the Turkish presidency’s communication director Fahrettin Altun condemned the move, saying “this wrong decision is an attempt to grant legitimacy to racism.”

Turkey to publish reports on anti-Islam sentiments

The issue of the hijab, the traditional headscarf worn around the head and shoulders, has been divisive across Europe for years, underlining sharp differences over integrating Muslims.

Ankara has repeatedly accused European nations of not doing enough to prevent discrimination against Muslims, saying it will start publishing an annual report on what it calls examples of Islamophobia around the world.

In response to whether headscarf bans at work represented a violation of the freedom of religion, the CJEU said such bans were possible if justified by an employer’s need to present a neutral image.

Ties between Ankara and the bloc have been strained over a host of issues, namely over a dispute between EU member Greece and Turkey over maritime jurisdiction and energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

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