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Law and Religion Cases

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Recent law and religion rulings are listed for those interested in identifying a case to comment on.

This list includes a selection of cases relating to the discipline of law and religion for the years 2016-2022.

Please note that the catchwords/phrases relate only to the issues regarding religion or belief raised in the cases listed

  • WABE and MH Müller Handels [2021] EUECJ C-804/18 and C-341/19
    Equal treatment in employment and occupation – discrimination – political philosophical or religious signs
  • Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie Van België and Others [2020] EUECJ Case C-336/19
    Protection of animals at the time of killing – ritual slaughter – stunning
  • Puppinck and Others v Commission [2019] EUECJ C-418/18P O
    Public health – research policy –EU financing of activities involving the destruction of human embryos
  • Cresco Investigation GmbH v Achatzi [2019] EUECJ C-193/17
    Equal treatment in employment and occupation – discrimination – religious holidays
  • IR v JQ [2018] EUECJ C-68/17
    Equal treatment – – difference of treatment on grounds of religion or belief –occupational activities within churches and other organisations the ethos of which is based on religion or belief
  • Liga van Moskeeën en Islamitische Organisaties Provincie Antwerpen VZW v Vlaams Gewest (Global Action in the Interest of Animals VZW intervening) [2018] EUECJ C-426/16
    Protection of animals at the time of killing – ritual slaughter – stunning
  • Egenberger v Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung eV (Vera Egenberger v Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V.) [2018] EUECJ C-414/16
    Equal treatment – difference of treatment on grounds of religion or belief – occupational activities within churches and other organisations the ethos of which is based on religion or belief
  • Achbita v G4S Secure Solutions NV [2017] EUECJ C-157/15
    Equal treatment – discrimination – political, philosophical or religious signs in the workplace
    > G4S Secure Solutions [2017] EUECJ C-157/15
  • Bougnaoui v Micropole SA [2017] EUECJ C-188/15
    Equal treatment – discrimination – Islamic headscarf
    > Bougnanoui and ADDH [2017] EUECJ C-188/15

2022

  • Mr J Kovalkovs v 2 Sisters Food Group Limited [2022] UKET 4102454/2020
    Discrimination – religious symbols – Orthodox Christianity
  • Mr Philip Bialick v NNE Law Limited [2022] UKET 2405912/2020
    Discrimination – religious holiday – Orthodox Judaism

2021

  • Mrs Onuoha v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust [2021] ET2300516/2019
    Discrimination – religious symbols – Roman Catholic
  • E & F (Minors: Blood Transfusion) [2021] EWCA Civ 1888
    Consent to or refusal of medical treatment – blood transfusion – Jehovah’s Witnesses
  • Forstater v CGD Europe & Ors [2021] UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ
    Philosophical belief – gender-critical beliefs – trans persons
    > Forstater v CGD Europe & Ors [2021] UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ
    > Ms M Forstater v CGD Europe & Ors [2019] UKET 2200909/2019
  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust v Fixsler & Ors [2021] EWHC 2664 (Fam)
    >Life-sustaining medical treatment – location at which life-support should be withdrawn – Chassidic Jews
    > Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust v Fixsler & Ors [2021] EWHC 1426 (Fam)
    > Fixsler & Anor v Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 1018
  • Overd & Ors v The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary [2021] EWHC 3100 (QB)
    Right to manifest religion or belief – street preaching – Evangelical Christians
  • R (On the application of Cornerstone (North East) Adoption and Fostering Services Ltd) v HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) [2021] EWCA Civ 1390
  • Discrimination – fostering – recruitment and selection process for foster carers
    > R (Cornerstone (North East) Adoption and Fostering Service Ltd)) v The Office for Standards In Education, Children’s Services and Skills [2020] EWHC 1679 (Admin)
  • Sleath v West Midlands Trains [2021] UKET 1310379/2020
    >Discrimination – philosophical beliefs – unfair dismissal
  • Mr K Ferguson v Kintail Trustees Ltd & Anor [2021] ET 4103321/2020
    Discrimination – unfair dismissal – Evangelical Christian
  • P (Circumcision: Child in Care) [2021] EWHC 1616 (Fam)
    Interim care order – Muslim parents – circumcision
  • Halcrow & Anor v Crown Prosecution Service [2021] EWHC 483 (Admin)
    Restrictions on site entry – Stonehenge – Paganism and Druidism
  • Page v NHS Trust Development Authority [2021] EWCA Civ 255
    Discrimination – single parent and same-sex adoption – Christian
    > Page v Lord Chancellor & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 254
    > Page v Lord Chancellor & Anor [2019] UKEAT 0304_18_1906
    > Mr R Page v NHS Trust Developmental Authority [2017] UKET 2302433/2016
  • A and B (Minors: placement, faith) [2021] EWHC 455 (Admin)
    Right to manifest religion or belief – respite placement accommodation – Orthodox Haredi Jews
  • Seyi Omooba v Michael Garret Associates Ltd T/A Global Artists & Anor [2021] UKET 2202946/19, 2602362/19
    Discrimination – opposition to homosexuality – Christian

2020

  • Casamitjana v The League Against Cruel Sports [2020] UKET 3331129/2018
    Definition of religion or belief – philosophical belief – ethical veganism
  • Jackson v Lidl [2020] ET 2302259/2019/V
    Definition of religion or belief – philosophical belief– Stoicism
  • Appeal by Zuo Hui Xie against the Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] ScotCS CSIH 52
    Asylum application – risk of persecution – Falun Gong adherent
  • R (Harrison & Ors) v Secretary of State for Justice [2020] EWHC 2096 (Admin)
    Discrimination - recognition of humanist marriages – Humanists
  • R (Christian Concern) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2020] EWCA Civ 1239
    Early medical abortion – amendment to the Abortion Act 1967 – home of a pregnant woman
  • HM Attorney General v Akhter & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 122
    Marriage – non-qualifying ceremony – Islamic marriage ceremony
    > Akhter v Khan [2018] EWFC 54

2019

  • Mr G Conisbee v Crossley Farms Ltd & Ors [2019] UKET 3335357/2018
    Definition of religion or belief – philosophical belief – vegetarianism
  • Mr R Sethi v Elements Personnel Services Ltd [2019] ET 2300234/2018
    Discrimination – facial hair policy – Sikh
  • Birmingham City Council v Afsar [2019] EWHC 3217 (QB)
    Primary school – teaching of LGBT issues – injunctions to restrict protests and online abuse of teachers
  • Gray v Mulberry Company (Design) Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 1720
    Intellectual property rights – manifestation of religion or belief – discrimination
  • Dr David Mackereth v The Department for Work and Pensions & Anor [2019] UKET 1304602/2018
    Discrimination – refusal to refer to a transgender person by their chosen pronouns – Christian
  • Dulgheriu (and another) (Appellants) v London Borough of Ealing (Respondent) [2019] EWCA Civ 1490
    Abortion clinics – safe zone - Christian protestors
  • R (Ngole) v The University of Sheffield [2019] EWCA Civ 1127
    Social media posts – disapproval of homosexuality – Christian
    > R (Ngole) v University of Sheffield [2017] EWHC 2669 (Admin)
  • Mr C McEleny v Ministry of Defence [2019] UKET 4105347/2017
    >Discrimination – philosophical belief – Scottish independence and the social democratic values of the Scottish National Party
    > Mr C McEleny v Ministry of Defence [2019] UKET 4105347/2017
    > Mr C McEleny v Ministry of Defence [2018] UKET S/4105347/2017
  • Gan Menachem Hendon Ltd V De Groen [2019] UKEAT 0059_18_1202
    Discrimination – cohabitation – Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement
  • R (Ul-Haq) v Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council [2019] EWHC 70 (Admin)
    Discrimination – erection of raised edging around a grave – Muslims

2018

  • The City of Oxford Bus Services Ltd (t/a Oxford Bus Company) v Harvey [2018] UKEAT 0171_18_2112
    Discrimination – observing the Sabbath – Seventh Day Adventist
  • Lee (Respondent) v Ashers Baking Company Ltd and others (Appellants) (Northern Ireland) [2018] UKSC 49
    Discrimination – provision of goods and services – Christian
    > Lee v McArthur, McArthur and Ashers Baking Co Ltd [2016] NICA 39
  • TF and MA, appeals by, against the Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] ScotCS CSIH 58
    Asylum application – risk of persecution – Christian

2017

  • M (Children), Re [2017] EWCA Civ 2164
    Contact with children – transgender – Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community
    > J v B (Ultra-Orthodox Judaism: Transgender) [2017] EWFC 4
  • Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force & Ors v Laramore (Bahamas) [2017] UKPC 13
    Conscientious objection – active participation in a Christian ceremony – Muslim
  • Smyth, re Judicial review [2017] NIQB 55
    Discrimination – recognition of humanist marriage – Humanist

2016

  • ND (Albania) & Ors v The International Protection Appeals Tribunal & Anor [2020] IEHC 451
    Application for international protection – evidence at tribunal – oaths and affirmations
  • Institut de taoïsme Fung Loy Kok v Ville dr Montréal 2021 QCCS 3873 (CanLII) [French]
    Meaning of religion or belief – Taoism – Tai Chi
  • Hak v Procureure Générale du Québec 2021 QCCS 1466 (CanLII) [French]
    Public servants – religious clothing – face coverings
    > Hak v Procureure générale du Québec 2019 QCCA 2145 (CanLII)
  • Singh v Montréal Gateway Terminals Partnership 2019 QCCA 1494 [French]
    Health and safety – religious clothing – Sikh
  • Aryeh-Bain v Canada (Attorney General) 2019 FC 964
    Religious holidays – election date – Orthodox Jew
  • El-Alloul v Québec (Attorney General) & Ors 2018 QCCA 1610
    Secularism – religious clothing – Islamic headscarf
  • Law Society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University 2018 SCC 32
    Accreditation of law school – religiously-based code of conduct - Evangelical Christian educational institution
    > Trinity Western University v Law Society of Upper Canada 2018 SCC 33
  • DP (a pseudonym) v Bird [2021] VSC 850
    Personal injury – historic child abuse – vicarious liability of Diocese
  • Burns v Folau [2020] NSWCATAD 287
    Discrimination – homosexual vilification – social media statements
  • Passas v Comensoli [2019] NSWCATAP 298
    Discrimination – homosexual vilification – public statements
  • Elzahed v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 103
    Judicial discretion – testimony in court – giving evidence whilst wearing a face covering
  • Jason Camp on behalf of Charlotte Camp v Director General, Department of Education [2017] WASAT 79
    Discrimination – school assemblies – Atheists

Contact us

If you find a case which you think should be added to the list, please contact the PILARS team.