UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM WOMEN AND DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Atila Altuntas
STOCKHOLM (AA) – A Turkish women’s group Wednesday said the European Court of Justice’s ruling to allow a ban on religious symbols showed Europe had “surrendered to racism and fascism.”
In a statement, the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) said: “We are saddened to see racism, discrimination, Islamophobia, xenophobia and fascism are trending values in Europe.
“We expected the authorities to scorn the hijab ban, rather than approving it.”
The court’s decision Tuesday that banning the wearing of any “political, philosophical or religious symbol” in the workplace did not constitute “direct discrimination” has been described as a direct attack on women wearing the hijab, or headscarf.
KADEM added that women should not be dictated to by employers, governments or the court over what they wear.
“Europe has put its signature on another decision that is against freedom of conscience and religion,” the statement added. “Fundamentally, Europe needs some human rights lessons.”
Earlier, Amnesty International criticized the ruling as giving “greater leeway to employers to discriminate against women — and men — on the grounds of religious belief.”
Amnesty urged nations to condemn the decision.
The judgment came in the cases of two women in France and Belgium, dating back to 2008 and 2003 respectively, who were dismissed for refusing to remove their hijabs at work.
Samira Achbita took action after she was sacked in 2003 as a receptionist at the G4S security company in Belgium.
In the second case, French IT firm Micropole dismissed Asma Bougnaoui in 2008.
