Gay marriage: freedom of speech and conscience – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“At the beginning of 2013 11 countries allowed gay marriage to be performed. By the middle of the year that number had increased to 15 with more to come. Some states in the US and Mexico also allow gay marriages to take place and some jurisdictions recognise same-sex marriages conducted elsewhere but do not perform them. While civil partnerships were introduced throughout the UK in 2004, England and Wales and Scotland look likely to be the next jurisdictions to allow same-sex marriage. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13 to 2013-14 regarding England and Wales is already in the House of Lords and the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill has just been introduced. Northern Ireland, by contrast, looks set to stick solely with civil partnerships (and will recognise the other jurisdictions same-sex marriages as such).”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th July 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Lady Hale gives the Alison Weatherfield Memorial Lecture at the Employment Lawyers Association – Supreme Court

Lady Hale gives the Alison Weatherfield Memorial Lecture at the Employment Lawyers Association (PDF)

Supreme Court, 10th July 2013

Source: www.supremecourt.gov.uk

Anti-Semitic teacher loses tribunal claim that his views are a legitimate ‘philosophical belief’ – The Independent

“A primary school teacher sacked after allegations of anti-Semitic abuse has lost his attempt to argue that his views were a ‘philosophical belief’ covered under the Equality Act.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Atheists challenge churches’ free parking permits – The Guardian

Posted June 3rd, 2013 in belief discrimination, local government, news, parking by sally

“Many churches give out holy communion wine and wafers to the faithful. In Woking, Surrey, congregations can also queue up to have their free parking permits validated. But this privilege of churchgoing, however, is about to be challenged.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New equality guidance “recommends best practice” rather than creates new rights, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 10th, 2013 in belief discrimination, employment, equality, freedom of expression, news by sally

“Guidance on how employers should deal with requests made by employees in relation to religion or belief does not create new rights, but rather recommends ‘good practice’ to help employers comply with existing laws, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th April 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Vegans and druids to gain workplace rights under new equality rules – Daily Telegraph

“Vegetarian or vegan employees with deeply held beliefs should be allowed to exert their rights in the workplace by refusing to clean out office fridges containing meat or dairy products, according to new guidance.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fiancée fights for her right to a Scientology wedding in landmark legal bid to overturn ‘unfair’ marriage laws in England and Wales – The Independent

Posted October 25th, 2012 in belief discrimination, equality, marriage, news by sally

“Scientologists have launched a landmark legal bid to overturn marriage laws in England and Wales. Followers of the controversial new religion believe it is unfair that Protestants, Catholics, Quakers, Jews and Non-Conformists are allowed to have state sanctioned marriages in their religious buildings whilst other faiths are not.”

Full story

The Independent, 24th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Are Christians really marginalised in this country? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 10th, 2012 in belief discrimination, Christianity, human rights, news by tracey

“We will have to wait some time before Strasbourg hands down its judgment in the religious discrimination cases it heard earlier this week. Whatever the outcome – which is perhaps predictable – the Court’s ruling will have a significant influence on the place of religion in public life and on how the relationship between religion and the state should be structured to reflect the aims of fairness and mutual respect envisaged in the Convention.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 7th September 2012

Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

Religious freedom in UK to be considered by Strasbourg Court – UK Human Rights Blog

“Tomorrow (4 September) the Strasbourg Court will hear complaints in four applications that UK law has failed adequately to protect the applicants’ right to manifest their religion, contrary to Articles 9 (freedom of religion) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination).”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Strasbourg on freedom of religion – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“The American humourist PJ O’Rourke once said that it was funny how those who wanted to share their religious views with you, never wanted you to share yours with them. The European Court of Human Rights is about to have to share its views with all of us: this week it is hearing four cases on religion and the law.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th September 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Equality, human rights and religion or belief: time to get out of the courtroom? – UK Human Rights Blog

“The interaction between the law and religion or belief is rarely out of the headlines. Debate rages about whether Article 9, the human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, receives sufficient – or too much – protection in the courts. There has been a considerable amount of litigation, much of it contentious.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 24th August 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The right not to hold any belief is fundamental, says Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 26th, 2012 in belief discrimination, news, political parties, Supreme Court, treaties by sally

“It is no answer to a refugee claim to say that the individual concerned should avoid persecution by lying and feigning loyalty to a regime which he does not support.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 25th July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Asylum seekers should not have to feign political beliefs, court rules – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2012 in belief discrimination, extradition, news, political parties, treaties by sally

“Asylum seekers should not be expected or required to lie about their political beliefs, the supreme court has ruled in a decision likely to make it more difficult to deport asylum seekers to Zimbabwe.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christian sues NHS over ‘totalitarian’ stance on abortion – Daily Telegraph

“A Christian mental health worker who was sacked over her opposition to abortion is suing the NHS accusing it of having a ‘dangerously totalitarian’ approach to dissent on the issue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Christian loses employment tribunal over Sunday working – BBC News

“A Christian woman who claimed she was forced to leave her job because she was made to work on Sundays, has lost her case against Merton Council.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Power of Prayer or the Power to Pray – Hardwicke Chambers

“Bideford Town Council is a parish council in Devon. Each month it holds full council meetings in public. At the start of each meeting there are communal prayers. Prayers are deliberately placed before apologies so that those who do not wish to attend are not marked as absent and can attend after prayers. The prayers are always Christian, led by a Minister from one of the town’s eight Christian Churches. A motion to end prayers was proposed by Mr Bone, a member of the council, and twice defeated, once by 9 votes to 6.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 10th February 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Dorset gardener unfairly dismissed for anti-hunting views – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2011 in belief discrimination, hunting, news, unfair dismissal by tracey

“A Dorset man was unfairly dismissed from his job at a garden centre because of his anti-hunting beliefs, an employment tribunal has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man demoted over gay marriage Facebook post sues employer – BBC News

Posted October 25th, 2011 in belief discrimination, Christianity, employment, freedom of expression, news by sally

“A Manchester housing worker is taking legal action against his employer after being demoted for posting comments about gay marriage on Facebook.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Doctors fear monitoring of private beliefs as ‘praying GP’ faces hearing – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 20th, 2011 in belief discrimination, Church of England, disciplinary procedures, doctors, news by tracey

“Doctors fear their private lives and personal beliefs will soon come under increasing scrutiny from regulators, as a Christian GP who prayed with a patient faces a formal hearing.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hunt saboteur Joe Hashman wins landmark ruling – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2011 in belief discrimination, hunting, news, tribunals by sally

“An animal rights activist whose long-running campaigns made him notorious in hunting circles has won a landmark ruling that his anti-hunting beliefs should be protected from discrimination in the same way as religion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk