CJEU: Bans on religious symbols in government offices upheld

Government offices across the European Union can ban employees from wearing religious symbols, such as Islamic headscarves, in the interest of neutrality, according to a ruling by the EU’s Court of Justice.

Why it matters: The court emphasized that such bans must be applied equally to all government employees and within the legal context of each member state.

The big picture: The decision echoes previous rulings by the same court, which stated that private sector employers can limit the expression of religious, political, or philosophical beliefs when there is a genuine need for neutrality.

What's next: It remains to be seen how this ruling will be implemented by member states and how it will impact religious freedom in the workplace.

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