Headscarves and the CJEU: protecting fundamental rights and pandering to prejudice: the CJEU does both

Article

Howard, E. 2022. Headscarves and the CJEU: protecting fundamental rights and pandering to prejudice: the CJEU does both. Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law. 29 (2), pp. 245-262. https://doi.org/10.1177/1023263X221080557
TypeArticle
TitleHeadscarves and the CJEU: protecting fundamental rights and pandering to prejudice: the CJEU does both
AuthorsHoward, E.
Abstract

The CJEU judgment in the two latest Islamic headscarf cases was handed down in July 2021. The judgment allows employers to ban the wearing of religious and other symbols by employees, but it does specify under what conditions this can be done. This article builds on a previous article on the opinion of AG Rantos and the Shadow Opinion of former AG Sharpston and analyses the judgment in detail. It argues that the judgment is an improvement on the previous CJEU headscarf judgments in that it provides more protection for fundamental human rights. However, the CJEU also appears to allow employers to a certain extent to pander to the prejudicial wishes of their customers. The article concludes that the judgment presents a small glimmer of hope that the CJEU might be moving – albeit very slowly - towards more protection of Muslim women who want to wear headscarves at work for religious reasons.

Research GroupLaw and Politics
PublisherSchulthess Juristische Medien
JournalMaastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law
ISSN1023-263X
Electronic2399-5548
Publication dates
Online28 Feb 2022
Print01 Apr 2022
Publication process dates
Deposited31 Jan 2022
Accepted29 Jan 2022
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Restricted
Copyright Statement

Howard E. Headscarves and the CJEU: protecting fundamental rights and pandering to prejudice, the CJEU does both. Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law. 2022;29(2):245-262. Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). DOI: 10.1177/1023263X221080557.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1023263X221080557
LanguageEnglish
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