On Tuesday, the European Union’s highest court ruled that companies may bar their employees from wearing hijabs and other religious symbols in the workplace. Yet, the ruling may could further aggravate tensions between Muslims and the European communities they live in.
Center-right French presidential candidate Francois Fillon, author of the tome Conquering Islamic Terrorism, hailed the judgement as one that would “contribute to social cohesion and peace throughout Europe.” Terrorism experts, on the other hand, argued the move might fuel extremism by increasing a sense of isolation among Muslims living in Europe and handing jihadists a recruiting tool.
“Banning headscarves, along with burqa bans and travel restrictions, are simply grist to the mill of jihadist organizations and bolsters their propaganda and recruitment efforts,” Reinier Bergema told Foreign Policy.
Experts
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