Municipal Court Tuzla Discriminates Instead of Protecting Rights: Two Bosniak Women Denied Jobs Due to Hijab!

(Patria) - The Commission for Religious Freedom of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community in BiH, at its session held on 22 November 2025, considered serious allegations of religious discrimination at the Municipal Court in Tuzla.

The report highlights that the aforementioned institution, over the past year, refused to employ Azra Okanović and Aida Mustafić-Bošnjić for the position of typists, justifying this decision by the fact that they wear the hijab, which was labeled as an “obstacle” to employment.

According to the documentation reviewed by the Commission, the case of candidate Azra Okanović is particularly problematic. After receiving the list of candidates who met the competition requirements, the President of the Municipal Court employed the candidate with the seventh-best result, even though Okanović achieved fifth place, which – given that the competition was announced for five positions – would have automatically placed her among those hired. In the explanation of the decision, he stated the following: “Azra Okanović has an obstacle to employment, which is reflected in the fact that she is covered, which represents one of the religious characteristics and religious symbols, i.e., an obligation for Muslim women.”

The Commission for Religious Freedom unequivocally deems this procedure discriminatory, emphasizing that candidates Okanović and Mustafić-Bošnjić were denied the right to work solely due to their religion. The statement notes that the given explanation “has no objective and reasonable justification and as such violates the human right to prohibition of discrimination in connection with the right to freedom of religion.”

The Riyasat warns that such practice shows “a deliberate circumvention of international standards for the protection of human rights in the interpretation and implementation of domestic laws,” and reminds that the Constitution of BiH obliges public authorities to apply the highest standards of human rights protection, including a complete prohibition of discrimination.

Finally, the Commission states that it expects an urgent response from the competent authorities and a correction of the injustice, emphasizing that institutions must guarantee equal rights to all citizens and consistently protect freedom of religion and belief as one of the fundamental human rights.