Take off your Hijab or leave: French company sparks outrage

ALBAWABA - In an investigation launched by Mediapart, a French catering group called Elior-Derichebourg recently came under fire after it was accused of firing employees for wearing a hijab (Islamic headscarf), as reported by Nouvelle Aube.

The former employees were faced with an ultimatum: to take off their hijab or leave. According to the investigation, many claimed they were hired while wearing the Islamic headscarf, but a sudden shift in domestic rules on "neutrality" changed things. 

Mediapart's investigation revealed that the company informed several female employees wearing the hijab to remove their headscarves or face dismissal on charges of "serious misconduct."

Take off your Hijab or leave: French company sparks outrage

The company's actions sparked backlash from social media users and the women working there, who accused it of discrimination of a specific group of people over their appearance. 

On the contrary, several French social media users took to Facebook and expressed that the women should "comply with the rules of the company." 

They wrote, "All employees must comply with the rules of the house. In addition, the veil bluffs the principle of gender equality that exists in France."

Another added, "They know the rules so they respect or will see elsewhere it's not racism it's the law."