CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The European Court of Justice issued a ruling that allows European companies to ban headscarves, and other religious, philosophical or spiritual symbols in their workplaces, local media reported.

Detailed explanation-2: -The European Union’s (EU) top court said on Thursday companies can prohibit wearing of headscarves as long as it is a part of a broader ban, and one that does not discriminate against employees.

Detailed explanation-3: -Their ruling came in response to a request from German judges who had upheld the right of two employers to fire two women who insisted on wearing their headscarves to work. But in October 2022, the ECJ ruled that EU companies may need to justify bans on wearing religious symbols.

Detailed explanation-4: -In several countries in Europe, meanwhile, the adherence to the hijab has led to political controversies and proposals for a legal ban. Laws have been passed in France and Belgium to ban face-covering clothing, popularly described as the “burqa ban", although it does not only apply to the hijab.

Detailed explanation-5: -The cultural framework of the controversy can be traced to France’s history of colonization in North Africa, but escalated into a significant public debate in 1989 when three girls were suspended from school for refusing to remove their headscarves.