Advocate General’s Opinion in Case C-157/15 Samira Achbita and Centrum voor gelij kheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding v G4S Secure Solutions NV

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details No.54, 2016 (31.05.16)
Publication Date 31/05/2016
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Advocate General Juliane Kokott issued her Opinion on the 31 May 2016 in ECJ Case C-157/15 Samira Achbita and Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding v G4S Secure Solutions NV.

She suggested that a ban on staff wearing headscarves in companies may be admissible. If the ban is based on a general company rule which prohibits political, philosophical and religious symbols from being worn visibly in the workplace, such a ban may be justified if it enables the employer to pursue the legitimate policy of ensuring religious and ideological neutrality.

The case was referred for a preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice by a Belgiam court after a complaint from a Muslim woman in Belgium who was fired for wearing a headscarf.

A judgement in the case was expected later in 2016.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2016-05/cp160054en.pdf
Related Links
EurActiv, 01.06.16: EU companies could justify ban on headscarves http://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/eu-companies-could-justify-ban-on-headscarves/
ESO: Background information: Thousands attend inter-faith march in Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/thousands-attend-inter-faith-march-in-brussels/
ESO: Background information: European Islamophobia Report 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-islamophobia-report-2015/
The Guardian, 31.05.16: Senior EU lawyer backs workplace ban on Muslim headscarves http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/31/senior-eu-lawyer-backs-workplace-ban-on-muslim-headscarves
Website: Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (UNIA) http://unia.be/en
BBC News, 31.05.16: Top EU court adviser backs workplace Muslim headscarf ban http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36419525
EUObserver, 31.05.16: EU firms free to ban Muslim headscarves, jurist says https://euobserver.com/justice/133621
Politico, 31.05.16: ECJ top adviser backs workplace headscarf ban http://www.politico.eu/article/ecj-top-adviser-backs-workplace-headscarf-ban-ecj-g4s-muslim/

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