Norwegian court fines hairdresser for refusal to serve client in hijab

 A Norwegian court on Monday ordered to fine Merete Hodne, a hairdresser, who refused to serve a client in hijab, with 10,000 kroner, equal to about $1,200.

A Norwegian court on Monday ordered to fine Merete Hodne, a hairdresser, who refused to serve a client in hijab, with 10,000 kroner, equal to about $1,200.

The Norwegian VG newspaper reported that the court delivered a verdict on the ground of the fact that the hairdresser acted intentionally and “discriminated” her client because she was Muslim.

According to the media outlet, Hodne told the court that she refused to serve the woman, because she considered her hijab as a “totalitarian symbol.”

Earlier in the year, there were a number of controversial incidents related to wearing traditional Islamic clothing for women. 

Local authorities in several European countries, such as Bulgaria and France prohibited the public from wearing such clothes, causing waves of criticism in regard to these moves.