Ankara, Mar 17 (IANS): The Turkish President accused an EU ruling, which allows employers to ban employees from wearing the Islamic headscarf, of starting a struggle between Christian "cross" and "crescent" of Islamic world, media reports said.

"Where is the liberty of religion? They have started a struggle between the cross and crescent," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, ahead of April 16 referendum campaign for constitutional amendment.

He suggested that Europe is moving toward the days just before World War II, Efe news reported.

The controversial decision drew criticism from Turkish politicians. Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik stated during an interview with a news channel on Wednesday that "the decision was influenced by the trend of Islamophobia (in Europe)".

Describing the decision as the "apocalypse of justice", Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said: "It is a violation of human rights. Forcing people to choose between practicing their religion and their jobs does not comply with human rights, EU values or with law and justice."