Press Release: Judgments in ECJ Cases C-157/15 Achbita, Centrum voor Gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding v G4S Secure Solutions, and C-188/15 Bougnaoui and Association de défense des droits de l’homme (ADDH) v Micropole Univers

The European Court of Justice gave a judgement in linked Cases C-157/15 and C-188/1 on the 14 March 2017. The essence of the ruling was that an internal rule of an undertaking which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination. However, in the absence of such a rule, the willingness of an employer to take account of the wishes of a customer no longer to have the employer’s services provided by a worker wearing an Islamic headscarf cannot be considered an occupational requirement that could rule out discrimination

• Primary Source

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: Is workplace headscarf ban discriminatory? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/176064/is-workplace-headscarf-ban-discriminatory

Deutsche Welle, 14.03.17: ECJ headscarf ruling and its consequences http://dw.com/p/2ZBG5

Politico, 14.03.17: EU top court OKs workplace headscarf ban http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-top-court-oks-workplace-headscarf-ban/

EUObserver, 14.03.17: Islamic veil can be banned in workplace, says EU court https://euobserver.com/social/137234

EurActiv, 14.03.17: Amnesty warns ECJ headscarf ban ruling ‘panders to prejudice’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/freedom-of-thought/news/amnesty-warns-ecj-headscarf-ban-ruling-panders-to-prejudice/

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 15.03.17: The European Court has normalized 'Hijabophobia' https://www.opendemocracy.net/halim-shebaya/european-court-has-normalized-hijabophobia

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 14.03.17: Headscarf bans at work: explaining the ECJ rulings http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/headscarf-bans-at-work-explaining-ecj.html

ESO: Background information: 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 http://www.europeansources.info/record/advocate-generals-opinion-in-case-c-157-15-samira-achbita-and-centrum-voor-gelij-kheid-van-kansen-en-voor-racismebestrijding-v-g4s-secure-solutions-nv/

ESO: Background information: Wearing the veil at work: Achbita and Bougnaoui - Can a duty to reasonable accommodation be derived from the EU concept of indirect discrimination? http://www.europeansources.info/record/blog-wearing-the-veil-at-work-achbita-and-bougnaoui-can-a-duty-to-reasonable-accommodation-be-derived-from-the-eu-concept-of-indirect-discrimination/

EurActiv, 16.03.17: Erdogan sees ‘crusade against Islam’ behind ECJ headscarf ruling http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/erdogan-sees-crusade-against-islam-behind-ecj-headscarf-ruling/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 17.03.17: Faith at work: the CJEU’s headscarf rulings http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/faith-at-work-cjeus-headscarf-rulings.html

Economia, 15.03.17: ECJ rules workplace headscarf ban is not discriminatory http://economia.icaew.com/en/news/march-2017/ecj-rules-workplace-headscarf-ban-does-not-constitute-discrimination

The Conversation, 16.03.17: Freedom of religion under threat across Europe after EU court rules employers can ban headscarves https://theconversation.com/freedom-of-religion-under-threat-across-europe-after-eu-court-rules-employers-can-ban-headscarves-74583

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 21.03.17: What is the point of minimum harmonization of fundamental rights? Some further reflections on the Achbita case http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/what-is-point-of-minimum-harmonization.html

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