To what extent does the prohibition of discrimination based on religion or belief under EU law, and in particular under Directive 2000/78, (2) render unlawful the dismissal of an employee who is a practising Muslim on the ground that she refuses to comply with an instruction from her employer (a private-sector undertaking) that she is not to wear a veil or headscarf when in contact with the customers of the business?

That question was put the CJEU in the second case in a month relating to the ban on religious symbols, particularly Muslim-related head wear, in the workplace. Ms Asma Bougnaoui was employed as a design engineer by Micropole SA. Prior to working for that company as an