Turkish officials unhappy with EU top court decision on Muslim rights

ANKARA

Turkey’s presidential spokesman on Sunday expressed disappointment with a recent European court ruling greenlighting discrimination based on headscarves, calling it disrespect for Muslim women's religious freedom.

“The decision by the European Court of Justice on the headscarf in the workplace is another blow to the rights of Muslim women with headscarves and will play right into the hands of those warmongers against Islam in Europe,” said Ibrahim Kalin on Twitter.

“Does the concept of religious freedom now exclude Muslims?” he asked.

Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey’s Justice and Development (AK) Party, also blasted the ruling on Twitter, saying it violates religious freedom and will encourage xenophobic and Islamophobic circles that feed prejudice against Muslims in Europe.

The court’s “restrictive comments on fundamental rights and freedoms will lead to a regression from democratic values. It is also incompatible with the system of rights and freedoms,” he said.

Celik added the decision is a blow to the fight against racism and Islamophobia.

The European Court of Justice on Thursday ruled on two cases brought by Muslim women in Germany who were suspended from their jobs for wearing headscarves.

It ruled that companies in member states can ban employees from wearing headscarves if they "need to present a neutral image to customers."