(Dutch News) Amersfoort city council was within its rights to reduce the welfare benefits of a man who refused to shave his beard while following training to work with asbestos, administrative appeal court judges said on Tuesday.
The man needed to shave so he could wear proper safety gear but refused to do so on religious grounds.
While banning beards could be seen as an infringement of freedom of religion, it was permitted because safety masks are a “compulsory and necessary means to protect health,” the court said.
“In addition, the man had few other opportunities to find a job,” the court said.
