(VOVworld) – Turkey has criticized the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling that allows companies to ban staff from wearing religious costumes and political symbols, including Islamic headscarves at work. Turkey said the decision will incite anti-Muslim feeling.

Women look at veils on display at an exhibition hall for the Muslim World Fair in Le Bourget, outside Paris.(Photo Christophe Ena/AP)

The European Court of Justice on March 14 ruled that a company’s internal regulation prohibiting wearing any political, philosophical, or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination.

Manfred Weber, Head of the European People's Party (EPP) hailed the ECJ’s decision as a victory for European values. Amnesty International said the decision will create resentment and incite discrimination. Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for the Turkish President, said the ECJ’s decision relating to Islamic headscarves bolsters anti-Muslim sentiments and xenophobia.

Turkey plans to lift a ban on female military officers wearing Islamic headscarves. The military is the only Turkish institution where women are prohibited from wearing headscarves.

Wearing religious costumes, particularly Islamic headscarves, has been a controversial theme in the debate about nationalism and Muslim immigration in Europe. Austria is considering a complete ban on wearing headscarves in public places. Last year some localities in France prohibited the wearing of full-body "burkini" swimsuits at certain beaches.