Abstract
In recent years, the issue of banning religious symbols in private companies has been repeatedly raised by national courts, to which the Court of Justice of the European Union has endeavoured to provide useful answers. According to this case law, companies are free to adopt neutral clauses prohibiting such conduct, subject to certain conditions which it is for the national courts to assess. This principle of freedom to prohibit, even within a limited framework, raises questions as to its compatibility with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.