Swedish ombudsman rules against airline that fired Muslim woman for wearing headscarf

By Atila Altuntas

STOCKHOLM (AA) - Sweden’s Equality Ombudsman ruled Thursday in favor of a Muslim woman who complained that she faced discrimination for wearing a headscarf.

“An airline company that does not allow religious symbols and implements a uniform dress code policy dismissed a woman without employing her for wearing a headscarf, even though her job application was accepted, which is discrimination," Lars Arrhenius said in a statement.

"Equality in the labor market and freedom of religion should not conflict with the interests of the employer. However, in such a balance, freedom of religion should prevail,” he added.

Consequently, it ordered the airline to pay the woman 150,000 Swedish Krona ($13,982) in compensation.

The woman filed a complaint with the Ombudsman last year on the grounds that she faced discrimination.