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EU Headscarf Ban Ruling Sparks Faith Group Backlash

Companies may ban staff from wearing Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols under certain conditions, the European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday, setting off a storm of complaint from rights groups and religious leaders.

In its first ruling on an issue that has become highly charged across Europe, the Court of Justice (ECJ) found a Belgian firm which had a rule that employees who dealt with customers should not wear visible religious or political symbols may not have discriminated against a Muslim receptionist it dismissed for wearing a headscarf.

The judgment on that and a French case came on the eve of a Dutch election in which Muslim immigration is a key issue and weeks before a similarly charged presidential vote in France, where headscarves are banned in public service jobs.

French conservative candidate Francois Fillon hailed the ECJ ruling as “an immense relief” to companies and workers that would contribute to “social peace”.

But a group backing the fired employees said the ruling may shut many Muslim women out of the workforce. European rabbis said the Court had added to rising incidences of hate crime to send a message that “faith communities are no longer welcome”.

The judges in Luxembourg concluded the dismissals of the two women may, depending on the view of national courts, have breached EU laws against religious discrimination.

They determined that the case of the French engineer Asma Bougnaoui, fired by software company Micropole after a customer complaint, may well have been discriminatory.

Reactions, however, focused on the findings that services firm G4S in Belgium was entitled to dismiss receptionist Samira Achbita in 2006 if, in pursuit of legitimate business interests, it fairly applied a broad dress code for all customer-facing staff to project an image of political and religious neutrality.

“BACKDOOR TO PREJUDICE”

The Open Society Justice Initiative, a group backed by the philanthropist George Soros, said the ruling “weakens the guarantee of equality” offered by EU laws: “In places where national law is weak, this ruling will exclude many Muslim women from the workplace,” policy office Maryam Hmadoun said.

Amnesty International welcomed the ruling on the French case that “employers are not at liberty to pander to the prejudices of their clients”. But, it said, bans on religious symbols to show neutrality opened “a backdoor to precisely such prejudice”.

The president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, complained: “This decision sends a signal to all religious groups in Europe”. National court cases across Europe have included questions on the wearing of Christian crosses, Sikh turbans and Jewish skullcaps.

In the Belgian case, the ECJ said: “An internal rule of an undertaking which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination.”

It was for Belgian judges to determine whether Achbita may have been a victim of indirect discrimination if the rule put people of a particular faith at a disadvantage.

But the rule could still be justified if it was “genuinely pursued in a consistent and systematic manner” to project an “image of neutrality”.

Source: Today

March 15, 2017
Firms Can Ban Wearing Of Religious Symbols: EU Court

European companies can ban employees from wearing religious or political symbols including the Islamic headscarf, the European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday (March 14) in a landmark case.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said it does not constitute “direct discrimination” if a firm has an internal rule banning the wearing of “any political, philosophical or religious sign”.

The Luxembourg-based court was ruling on the case of a Muslim woman fired by the security company G4S in Belgium after she insisted on wearing a headscarf.

The ruling came on the eve of a Dutch election in which Muslim immigration has been a key issue and a bellwether for attitudes to migration and refugee policies across Europe. Terror attacks by over the past year or so have raised alarms in the continent, where the wearing of religious symbols, and especially Islamic symbols such as the headscarf has become a hot button issue.

Mr Manfred Weber, head of the centre-right European People’s Party, the biggest in the European Parliament, welcomed the ruling.

“Important ruling by the European Court of Justice: employers have the right to ban the Islamic veil at work. European values must apply in public life,” Mr Weber said in a tweet.

The ECJ was ruling on a case dating to 2003 when Ms Samira Achbita, a Muslim, was employed as a receptionist by G4S security services in Belgium.

At the time, the company had an “unwritten rule” that employees should not wear any political, religious or philosophical symbols at work, the ECJ said.

In 2006, Ms Achbita told G4S she wanted to wear the Islamic headscarf at work but was told this would not be allowed.

Subsequently, the company introduced a formal ban. Ms Achbita was dismissed and she went to court claiming discrimination.

The ECJ said European Union law does bar discrimination on religious grounds, but G4S’s actions were based on treating all employees the same, meaning no one person was singled out for application of the ban.

“The rule thus treats all employees of the undertaking in the same way, notably by requiring them, generally and without any differentiation, to dress neutrally,” the ECJ said.

“Accordingly, such an internal rule does not introduce a difference of treatment that is directly based on religion or belief,” it said.

However in a related case in France, the ECJ ruled that a customer could not demand that a company employee not wear the Islamic headscarf when conducting business with them on its behalf.

Design engineer Asma Bougnaoui was employed full-time by Micropole, a private company, in 2008, having been told that wearing the headscarf might cause problems with clients.

Following a customer complaint, Micropole asked Ms Bougnaoui not to wear the headscarf on the grounds employees should be dressed neutrally.

She was subsequently dismissed and went to court claiming discrimination.

The ECJ said the case turned on whether there was an internal company rule in place applicable to all, as in the G4S instance, or whether the client’s demand meant Ms Bougnaoui was treated differently.

The ECJ concluded that Ms Bougnaoui had indeed been treated differently and so the client’s demand that she not wear a headscarf “cannot be considered a genuine and determining occupational requirement”.

Source: Today

March 15, 2017
Resident Tracks Woman Offering Sex Services In Condo, Records 111 Visitors In 3 Weeks

A woman allegedly offering sex services in a condominium unit in Little India is being investigated by the police, thanks to three weeks’ work by a neighbour who wanted to stamp out vice activities there.

The neighbour, who gave her name only as Mary, told Shin Min Daily News in a report on Tuesday (March 14) that the woman from China moved in on Feb 20.

Mary found her activities suspicious.

“She moved in in the morning. That afternoon, there were strange men who visited her, and after that even more strange men,” Mary told Shin Min.

She said the men took the lift separately and visited the woman’s second-floor unit in the six-storey building. She declined to reveal the name of the development.

The woman allegedly entertained 111 customers in the span of three weeks, with as many as 10 a day in her busiest week, said Mary.

The visitors ranged in ages from 20s to 60s, and would visit between 11am and 3am.

“I once saw an uncle walking outside the condo,” said Mary. “After I talked to him, he admitted he was waiting for a woman. I had heard friends say that you can use the Weixin chat service to get ‘services’, and by using Weixin’s ‘people nearby’ feature, I found (a woman nearby) offering ‘professional massage’ services.”

The woman’s Weixin photo matched the new tenant.

On her profile, she allegedly advertised her services and even included a website link, said Mary.

“I clicked on the link and found out that she offered sex services, so I reported it to the police. After that, I checked the closed-circuit camera television footage daily and wrote down 18 pages of notes on strange men who went to the second floor,” she said.

On Saturday (March 11), Mary printed out posters explaining what the woman was doing, to warn other residents.

The woman moved out on Sunday (March 12), Mary said.

Police confirmed with The Straits Times on Tuesday that a report was lodged, adding that investigations are ongoing.

In 2015, The New Paper reported the arrest of another woman conducting vice activities in a condominium unit, after a resident reported it to the police.

The Straits Times understands that it is the same sharp-eyed resident at the same development.

Source: ST

March 14, 2017
No One Should Spread Ill-Will Against Other Religions Or Non-Believers: DPM Teo

Singapore must keep a close watch on exclusivist and divisive teachings or statements, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Tuesday (March 14).

Such remarks have had repercussions in other countries, he noted in a speech at the annual retreat of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), a group of local Muslim scholars who have been countering terror detainees’ misunderstanding of religious concepts.

“Attacks claimed to be in the name of Islam have led to a rise in Islamophobia, with anti-immigration rhetoric and negative reactions among other communities,” he said.

“More importantly, no person should spread ill-will against other religions or non-believers,” said Mr Teo.

Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, said the Government takes a strong stand on such teachings or statements.

“We will investigate each case carefully, and take action if necessary,” he said.

“It has taken many years for us to build a cohesive society, united as one people regardless of race or religion. We must focus on what we have in common rather than allow others to divide us,” he added.

He was speaking in Malay to about 50 RRG members and volunteers, many of them religious teachers.

In his speech, Mr Teo noted that the threat of terrorism to Singapore and the region is at its highest level in recent years.

As terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) faces severe pressure in Syria and Iraq, its fighters are likely to disperse and find new battlegrounds.

“We have to be prepared for attacks from ISIS-linked cells in South-east Asia,” he said.

Observers have noted that the threats of terrorism and extremism could have an impact on social cohesion here, and Mr Teo suggested three levels the RRG could help in building a united and cohesive society.

First, it can counsel individuals at risk and detainees to support their rehabilitation.

Such individuals now tend to be significantly younger, have no prior terror links and were self-radicalised by extremist propaganda, said Mr Teo.

Second, the RRG can play a “peace-building” role to enhance cohesion and promote inter-faith understanding within the Singapore community.

“By working with other communities and religious groups, we can show how Islam as a religion is inclusive and consistent with our nation’s values,” he said.

This is especially important as exclusivist religious teachings from the internet or preachers have tried to make inroads into Singapore, he added.

Third, the RRG can continue to strengthen the understanding of the practice of Islam within Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious context.

“Every one of you in the RRG has worked tirelessly,” Mr Teo said, thanking members for their work. “You make an important contribution to maintaining peace and harmony among all Singaporeans,” he said.

Source: ST

March 14, 2017
Hong Kong Trails Singapore In Quality-Of-Life Rankings Due To Housing, Pollution Issues

Hong Kong risks losing out on top expatriate talent if it does not tackle its pollution and housing issues, according to latest survey findings on quality of life, released by a global consulting firm.

The annual survey by Mercer, used by multinational companies to design expat packages, ranked Hong Kong 71 out of 231 cities for quality of living – dropping one spot from last year’s placing.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s regional rival Singapore took the top spot, followed by five Japanese cities. Hong Kong placed 7th.

Pollution and housing were some of the greatest concerns for expatriates looking to move to Hong Kong.

“For employees with families, they need to consider their children’s health. Singapore will definitely be a better place than Hong Kong because of better pollution control,” Ms Connie Leung, principal business leader for talent information solutions at Mercer, said.

“And as for housing [in Singapore], you may have more choices for flats [and] the living environment is much better. The cost is too high in Hong Kong and so you have a limited choice [of flats].”

Vienna in Austria took the number one ranking overall for the city with the best quality of life.

According to the survey, Hong Kong’s quality of life was on par with Detroit, a former United States automobile manufacturing powerhouse.

Social and political issues were also reasons for the city’s lower ranking.

“Hong Kong saw a dip in ranking due to recent social and political uncertainties as well as the rise in quality of living in other cities in the region,” Ms Leung said.

“The good news is, Hong Kong still remains at a relatively good standing compared to nearby cities in Asia.”

The survey looked at 10 categories including: political and social environment, economic environment, natural environment, housing, health services, and education.

British account manager Nick Ball has been a Hong Kong resident since 2011 and said he has seen a decline in his quality of life.

“A lot of places where we use to hang out have disappeared because of [high] rents, and it seems that things that can bring a better way of life … are just not really being very well run anymore,” he said.

“Congestion has got a lot worse. You try to go anywhere on the weekend and it’s just terrible unless you get out first thing in the morning because there are traffic jams everywhere.”

Despite the problems, Ball still said there was “no other place on Earth” like Hong Kong, but he was uncertain if he would still be in the city five years from now if things continued to decline.

Source: Today

March 14, 2017