Netherlands / The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) (2020), Opinion 2020-48, 22 June 2020, available at: https://mensenrechten.nl/nl/oordeel/2020-48
Country
Netherlands
Title
Year
Decision/ruling/judgment date
Incident(s) concerned/related
Related Bias motivation
Groups affected
Court/Body type
Court/Body
Key facts of the case
A man wanted to open a business account with Bunq, a bank, for the general partnership of which he is a partner. The activities of the general partnership include the dissemination of Islamic knowledge to every individual in the Netherlands. The bank argued that the reason for the exclusion of religious organisations from a business account lies in legislation regarding the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. But the Netherlands Institute for Human Rightst is of the opinion that legislation cited by the defendant neither obliges nor justifies the exclusion of individuals or organisations from a corporate account without further investigation simply on the grounds that they adhere to a religion. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights decides therefore that with its acceptance policy Bunq discriminates on the ground of religion between organisations without a religious character and organisations with a religious character. Under Dutch Equal Treatment Law a bank may not discriminate on the grounds of religion when offering services, such as a business account.
Main reasoning/argumentation
A bank may not refuse an account to an organisation on ground of the religious character of the organisation in character.
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
A bank may not discriminate on the ground of religion when offering services, such as a business account. With its acceptance policy Bunq makes a direct distinction on the ground of religion between organisations without a religious character and organisations with a religious character. This is not allowed under Dutch Equal Treatment Law.
Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case
A bank may not refuse a business account to an organisation because of the religious character of this organisation.
Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details
"Het maken van direct onderscheid is verboden, tenzij daarvoor een uitzondering in de wet is opgenomen. Verweerster heeft aangevoerd dat de reden van de uitsluiting van religieuze organisaties van een zakelijke rekening gelegen is in wetgeving ten aanzien van het voorkomen van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme. Het College erkent weliswaar het belang van het voorkomen van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme, maar de door verweerster genoemde wetgeving verplicht noch rechtvaardigt het zonder nader onderzoek uitsluiten van individuen of organisaties van een zakelijke rekening, enkel op grond van het feit dat zij een godsdienst aanhangen of vertegenwoordigen."
"Making direct distinction is prohibited, unless an exception is provided for in the law. The defendant has argued that the reason for the exclusion of religious organizations from a business account lies in legislation regarding the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. While the Institute recognizes the importance of preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, the legislation cited by the defendant neither obliges nor justifies the exclusion of individuals or organizations from a corporate account without further investigation simply on the grounds that they adhere to a religion. or represent."
The Netherlands, The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) (2020), Opinion 2020-48, 22 June 2020, available at: https://mensenrechten.nl/nl/oordeel/2020-48