Iran slams top European court’s ruling on hijab

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday slammed the European Court of Justice’s recent ruling allowing employers to prohibit hijab and other religious garb at the workplace.

"The decision announced by the European Judiciary is shameful,” Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a press briefing on Monday, reported Iranian state media. “We expect the relevant European institutions and authorities to correct this. This is the primary and obvious violation of the freedom of law and religion in Europe and the violation of the rights of minorities in Europe.”

“This decision is discriminatory and could increase the spread of Islamophobia and violence against Muslims in Europe,” he added.

The European Court of Justice on Thursday ruled that employers would have the authority to prohibit any form of religious, political, or philosophical wear at the workplace.

The court ruled that this is “justified by the employer’s need to present a neutral image towards customers or to prevent social disputes.”

“However, that justification must correspond to a genuine need on the part of the employer and, in reconciling the rights and interests at issue, the national courts may take into account the specific context of their Member State and, in particular, more favourable national provisions on the protection of freedom of religion,” it added.

Turkey also slammed the court’s ruling on Sunday, calling it “an open violation of the right of religion” and “legally and conscientiously wrong and dangerous.”

“This decision constitutes a further example of the efforts to institutionalise and legalise hate and intolerance against Muslims in Europe,” the statement from the foreign ministry read.

“It is a fact that Muslims are exposed to intolerance, hate speech and even violence, are subjected to widespread stigmatization and exclusion from socio-economic life and that especially Muslim women are adversely affected by this situation,” the statement added. “And yet, at a time when hatred against Islam, racism and the poison of hate that take Europe hostage, are on the rise, the CJEU's decision not only ignores freedom of religion, but also provides a basis and legal cover for discrimination.”

Iran slams top European court’s ruling on hijab

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