Discrimination Ombudsman: Misogyny is Acceptable if Justified by Religious Beliefs

A Muslim man was denied a job at Stockholms Lokaltrafik, Stockholm's public transport company, after he made it clear that he prioritises his Muslim faith over Sweden's values of gender equality. For example, he wouldn't shake hands with women. However, the discrimination ombudsman has now taken sides with the man. Workplace misogyny, it seems, is permissible, if justified by religious beliefs.

Illustration: Man in Muslim hijab (Source: Pexels)

Although the rules applied equally to all religions, views of life, and political ideologies, the DO argued that Muslim women were indeed being discriminated against if no specific exceptions were made for them. The DO maintained that the ban on the veil did not promote gender equality, but rather perpetuated gender discrimination.

The uniform regulation banning religious symbols has a particularly negative impact on Muslim women, who wear the veil for religious reasons. The balancing of interests must therefore weigh equality in the labour market and the religious freedom of the individual against the employer's interest, and in such a balance, equality and religious freedom must weigh very heavily,

– said Lars Arrhenius, discrimination ombudsman, and requested that the court order the airline to pay 150,000 Swedish kronor in discrimination damages to the Muslim woman.