Spain / Social Courthouse: Palma de Mallorca / No. 31/2017

Country

Spain

Title

Spain / Social Courthouse: Palma de Mallorca / No. 31/2017

View full Case

Year

2017

Decision/ruling/judgment date

Monday, February 06, 2017

Incident(s) concerned/related

Harassment

Related Bias motivation

Religion
Gender

Groups affected

Muslims

Court/Body type

National Court

Court/Body

Social Courthouse, Palma de Mallorca

Key facts of the case

The social court of Palma de Mallorca ruled against an airline company which had sanctioned several times a female staff member for wearing a hijab, allegedly based on the minor offence of "lack of cleanliness" of the person or uniform and the serious offence of disobeying orders. She was finally fired for wearing the hijab at work. The applicant requested the court to invalidate the sanctions imposed by the company. The court declared the existence of a violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom (article 16 of the Spanish Constitution) and consequently the invalidity of sanctions imposed by the company.

Main reasoning/argumentation

The use of the hijab is a manifestation of religious belief of the employee.
The ban was based on a purely aesthetic requirement.
The company's manual about the dress code was not provided to the Committee members.
Therefore the company did not provde to have in place any relevant rule restricting the use of symbols religious.

Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?

Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case

Violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom recognized under the Article 16 of the Spanish Constitution

It was not comparable to the use of mere adornments to the use of the veil.

Related to discrimination by gender at employment

Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case

It declared the existence of a violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom of Mrs Daniela (article 16 of the Spanish Constitution), and consequently the invalidity of sanctions imposed by the company
The company is requested for an immediate cessation of the action and the restoration of the plaintiff on the integrity of their right and to be replaced as at the initial moment, together with the pending payment of 449,142 euros and the payment of a compensation for the damages caused calculated in 7.892 euros.

Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details

"la existencia de vulneración del derecho fundamental a la libertad religiosa de la Sra. Daniela (artículo 16 de la Constitución ), y consiguientemente la nulidad de las sanciones impuestas por la empresa"

"the existence of a violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom of Mrs Daniela (article 16 of the Constitution), and consequently the invalidity of sanctions imposed by the company"

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.