Flags, beards and pilgrimages: A review of the early cases on religious discrimination

It is now three years since the creation of a domestic body of law prohibiting discrimination on grounds of religion or belief under English law: the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 outlawed direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of religion or belief in relation to employment and vocational training; while Part 2 of the Equality Act 2006 has now also outlawed direct and indirect discrimination and victimisation on grounds of religion or belief in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services. This piece seeks to examine the case law that has developed since. Although the decisions of the Employment Tribunal do not serve as binding precedent for subsequent cases, nevertheless, contrasting successful claims with those that have been dismissed provides an impression of the effect of the new law three years on