Beyond Formal Equality
Neutrality Policies and Discrimination Against Muslim Women in Belgium: Substantive Equality, Corporate Neutrality, and the Legacy of Achbita v. G4S
In recent decades, political shifts and debate over secularism have led to growing questions about where Muslim minorities fit into Western societies. The manuscript explores how private "neutrality policies" and systemic biases threaten the civil liberties of Muslim women in Belgium. Focusing on the landmark European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in Achbita v. G4S, this academic paper shows how formal equality can hide cultural dominance, leaving minority religious expressions unprotected in private workplaces. This study is relevant for students and researchers interested in European employment law, human rights, and the sociology of religion.