Jeudi intime: Religions between Ethnics and Ethics : which challenge for anti-discrimination law ?

JICH - Louis-Léon Christians (UCL, RSCS)

Trump’s recent executive order has banned entry from seven majoritarily Muslim countries. The ban has brought an uproar since it seems to amount to discriminate on the basis of religion. In the public debate, the ban is also charged with racism. On the other hand, few people seem to object to the fact that being member of a communist party may be a ground for being denied admission in the US. This debate raises a challenge for legislators and for political philosophers. Is there a morally (and legally) relevant difference between discrimination on grounds of race, religion and political affiliation? Are they all objectionable? Is discrimination on the basis of (presumably) chosen ethical or political views less objectionable than discrimination on the basis of unchosen characteristics (such as skin colour)? Is discrimination on the basis of private ethical views less objectionable than discrimination on the basis of political views for which one might be expected to provide publicly acceptable justifications? Under which conditions (if any) can national security considerations preempt legitimate prohibition of discrimination? This important debate will be introduced by Louis-Léon Christians (UCL, RSCS).