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Saturday 11 February RNW - NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE NETHERLANDS IN 10 LANGUAGES, WORLDWIDE 24/7 ON RADIO, TV AND ONLINE

Court backs ban on tram driver’s crucifix

Published on 14 December 2009 - 1:36pm
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An Amsterdam court has ruled that the Dutch capital’s public transport service is within its rights to ban an employee from wearing a crucifix around his neck.

A tram driver, Ezzat Aziz, had brought the case because his employer had forbidden him from wearing a necklace bearing a Christian cross outside his uniform. He had been suspended several times for wearing the necklace.

Mr Aziz claimed he been subjected to unequal treatment. He said that while he was not allowed to wear his necklace, there was no ban on Islamic women employees wearing headscarves.

However, the court sided with the Mr Aziz’s employer. The Amsterdam public transport service pointed out that its employees are not allowed to wear necklaces of any kind, with or without religious symbols. They are allowed to express their religion visibly in other appropriate ways, such as by wearing a bracelet or ring. The court concluded that the rules were reasonable and there was no question of any religious discrimination.

Amsterdam tram driver Ezzat Aziz - youtube
An Amsterdam tram - Flickr / vitalyzator
 

  • Amsterdam tram - Flickr / vitalyzator<br>&copy;

Discussion

raghu 27 September 2011 - 5:56am / india

very useful information thank u for sharing

kate24 8 June 2011 - 6:11pm

Isn't this a bit too much, what harm wearing a necklace of any kind could make? It's ridiculous to have such silly bans for your employees, after all we are supposed to live in a free world where everyone wears anything they want without any restriction. I would also feel seriously offended to have my employer ban me wearing accessories, I am particularly fond of my name necklace and I would hate to leave it in a box all day.

Dr Nizam 28 June 2010 - 8:00pm / India

Mr. Azeez, my dear brother, you have succeeded in taking Muslim headscarf issue into a court. Its good, such things need to discussed and you have given your views regarding that.

But have you noticed the head scarves worn by our nun sisters? They have selected that great dress because it upholds their dignity and their role model in this matter is Mary, the mother of Christ.

And you know why Muslim women wear a similar dress and degrade them in front of you? It is because Islam has prescribed the dress used by Mary (May peace be upon her) for all women, and Muslim sisters feel dignified and protected in that dress. If Christians believe that Mary’s dress will suit only to the church population Islam suggests that dress for all women. Now you think it is an inappropriate dress. Don’t you feel ashamed to realize where you stand now in this matter?

Well, this is not the only place where Muslims prove themselves to be better Christians than the self proclaimed Christians. In almost all concepts, beliefs, prayers and views Muslims stand closer to Jesus (May peace be upon him) and his great mother than present day Christians. If you examine Christian concepts and scriptures thoroughly forgetting the misinterpretations and additions made by the church later you can realize it.

Anonynes ENGEL 16 June 2010 - 11:27am / Australia, not free to were what you have always worn.

Mr.Wilders will have something to say when he feels he should.He is not backward in coming forward.As he is a greet figther for the right of his own people.I wish him well in trying to keep the Netherland's free of all the foreigners,let us face it,They are not imigrants at all .As we should all know they try to take over.It sounds to me that the people in the Netherland' are frightened of those invaders.Send them back to were they came from.When you go to an another country startn a new,and leave behind were you lived before.Hub Hub HOLLAND.Engel.

Rosanna Dekkers 15 June 2010 - 8:22pm / Holland

Amsterdam was once the city of freedom, the city where you could legal smoke marijuana, the red-light district was legal and the gay capital of the world.
well... that's all the past-tense now
The Netherlands are the Netherlands anymore.
We were to tolerant and allowed an endless stream of Muslim immigrants.
Intolerant, radical extreme l Muslims rules large cities like Amsterdam now.

Hiram 14 December 2009 - 4:40pm / USA
"The court concluded that the rules were reasonable and there was no question of any religious discrimination.".....If a woman, tram driver is wearing a religious head scarve, while operating a tram or wearing it in public, then she should not be allowed to drive a tram. Does Islamic citizens have a preference in how they are allowed to express their religious beliefs? { "The Amsterdam public transport service pointed out that its employees are not allowed to wear necklaces of any kind, with or without religious symbols.".....Why? Why, is a necklace forbidden but not other religious apparel? Is it dangerous for the driver? Again, what are the justifications? {"The court concluded that the rules were reasonable and there was no question of any religious discrimination.".......It, the court, punished Mr Aziz because he is a Christian and unlike Muslims, Christians will not go out on the streets and riot. { Christianity was on trial in Amsterdam and it lost. Why? Because the courts in the Netherlands are humanistic but at the same time are afraid to comment on Islam. Where are you Mr. Wilders? Are you afraid to speak-up on this case against Christanity? Or, does the tram driver's name keep you from speaking for the little guy.

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