Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media reports injuries in ramming operation in al-Naqab.
Sheikh Daamoush: Zionists must remain worried, as they have committed a grave error.
Sheikh Daamoush: All concessions given by Lebanese government to date bore no fruit.
Sheikh Daamoush: It is the duty of the state to protect its citizens and sovereignty, government must push plans to that effect and refuse external pressures, diktats.
Sheikh Ali Daamoush: We are not concerned with any plans so long as enemy not abiding by ceasefire.
Israeli media says reports incoming of suspected ramming operation in Tal al-Sabe', al-Naqab.
Sheikh Daamoush: Sayyed Abou Ali's martyrdom will not undermine resistance or prevent it from continuing his plans.
Sheikh Daamoush: We announce today that Sayyed Abou Ali was one of the highest leaders who managed "People of Might" battle, bravely and successfully.
Sheikh Daamoush: Sayyed Tabatabai was a man of the field, present in all confrontations, and one of the architects of liberation and victory.
Hezbollah Executive Council head Sheikh Ali Daamoush delivers eulogy of martyred Commander Haitham Tabatabai, fellow martyrs.

European "freedom": EU court rules hijab bans are "OK"

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Oct 2022 17:29
3 Min Read

In the name of "neutrality", Belgium voices no problem in banning the hijab.

  • x
  • European
    Students hold a protest against the hijab ban in the educational system in Belgium: The poster says: "They claim to want to free me by taking away my freedom."

What is neutrality - and who gets to decide? Certainly not Muslim women, who in Belgium, do not get to decide what they can wear and cannot wear in Europe - the "beacon of democracy," or in other words, according to Borrell, a "garden" that needs protection from the "jungle".

With the recent hypocritical pushing for "freedoms" in Iran for regime change color revolts, a Belgian court has ruled that banning the hijab is "OK" as long as it does not "discriminate against employees" - a paradox in of itself. 

See more: Islamophobia in Europe is at a 'tipping point'

A Muslim woman, applying to do a 6-week work traineeship at a Belgian company, was told that she cannot wear a headscarf on the traineeship. 

The firm has a "neutrality" rule which prohibits any veil or form of head-covering on its premises. The woman complained to the Belgian court, which took its advice from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which said the ban is allowed as long as there is not any direct discrimination. 

"The internal rule of an undertaking prohibiting the visible wearing of religious, philosophical or spiritual signs does not constitute direct discrimination if it is applied to all workers in a general and undifferentiated way," judges said.

Last year, the CJEU said EU companies could ban employees from wearing the veil if they needed to depict a "neutral" image to their customers.

The ban on the hijab, even in Germany, has impeded many Muslim women from work, particularly teachers in state schools and trainee judges.

France banned the hijab in public schools in 2004, noting that France has the largest Muslim population in Europe. 

Read next: Islamophobic attack rips hijab off teenager

In January, the French Senate voted in favor of banning hijabs in sports competitions in the latest round of French Islamophobia and religious discrimination, arguing that "neutrality is a requirement" on the field.

The amendment aims at banning "the wearing of the veil in sports competitions," the text clearly stated, also arguing that the hijab could "put at risk" the safety of athletes wearing it.

The amendment was proposed by the right-wing Les Republicains party, and it was adopted in the senate with 160 votes in favor and 143 against.

  • Racism
  • Islamophobia
  • Hijab ban
  • Belgium
  • Discrimination

Most Read

Inside the Epstein-Rothschild web behind 'Israel’s' spy tech empire

Inside the Epstein-Rothschild web behind 'Israel’s' spy tech empire

  • Politics
  • 19 Nov 2025
Hamas fighters stand in formation as they prepare for the ceremony of Israeli captive hand over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

US plot for Gaza in shambles amid continued popular support for Hamas

  • Politics
  • 17 Nov 2025
Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of commander Haitham Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 23 Nov 2025
Democracy at the civilizational crossroads: Critical analysis of bourgeois Democracy, its alternatives

Democracy at the civilizational crossroads: Critical analysis of bourgeois Democracy, its alternatives

  • Analysis
  • 19 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
AP
Politics

Settler attacks intensify as Palestinians face systematic displacement

Beirut demonstration
West Asia

Beirut protest affirms right to resist, condemns Israeli aggression

Israeli military failure
Palestine

IOF dismiss generals, disciplines others after Oct 7 investigation

Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the Jubilee of the Choirs in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Pope's Lebanon visit still on track, Church official confirms

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS