Freedom of religion at the workplace : a study using discourse analytical theories on how freedom of religion is presented in court opinions

The purpose with this study is to investigate the boundary between veiled Muslim women’s freedom of religion and the employer’s right to maintain neutrality in the workplace. The study will therefore answer the following two research questions: How are the courts’ arguments represented in judgments about freedom of religion and neutrality? In what way does workplace neutrality serve as a means to address and problematize the veil as a religious symbol? To answer the research questions, critical discourse analysis is usedas an inspiration to identify the underlying power structures that may influence the construction of freedom of religion and neutrality in the workplace and how these are constructed. The study shows that the courts and employers uphold the established discourses in society for the sake of security, to protect themselves, their values and customer relations. In this context, the veil is often interpreted as a symbol of deviation that conflicts with the secular norms these institutions aim to preserve. This interpretation supports policies that limit visible religious expressions, reinforcing the idea of neutrality in public and professional spaces.