CAIR Condemns EU Court's Ruling Against Workplace Religious

Washington, 16 Jumadil Akhir 1438/15 March 2017 (MINA) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in a press release seen by The International Islamic News Agency (IINA), condemned a ruling by the European Court of Justice that allows employers to prohibit the Muslim headscarf (hijab) and other religious “signs” in the workplace.

According to that non-binding ruling, “an internal rule which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination,” IINA News reported.

Commenting on this issue, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: “It is clear to any thinking person that this ruling, like the discriminatory laws enacted in a number of European nations, will be used to target Muslim employees exclusively.

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This unjust ruling violates international norms of religious freedom and will serve to marginalize European Muslims further particularly Muslim women seeking economic empowerment.

“This Islamophobic ruling is based on an extremist interpretation of secularism, not on universal values of justice. Europe should follow America’s example of religious freedom and inclusion,” Awad concluded. (T/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)