A European court ruled Tuesday that employers can ban the wearing of Muslim headscarves in the workplace, a decision human rights groups say "opens a back door" for more religious prejudice in Europe at a time when Islamophobic sentiment is on the rise throughout the continent.In its nonbinding ruling, the 15-judge panel at the European Court of Justice said any employer that "prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical, or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination." The ruling states that the ban cannot be directed at headscarves explicitly but must be part of an internal rule requiring all employees to "dress neutrally." The court added that the ban cannot be at the behest of a customer demand."It is a sad day for justice and equality," a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain told VICE News. "At a time when populism and bigotry are at an all-time high, we fear that this ruling will serve as a green light to those wishing to normalize discrimination against faith communities."Read the rest of this article on VICE NEWS.