Religion and the Scottish Judicary

National Secular Society has recently posted on "Impartiality of Scottish judiciary undermined by religious ceremonies" 

"The National Secular Society has written to Kenny MacAskill MSP, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Justice to draw his attention to a possible undermining of the impartiality, integrity and independence of the Scottish judiciary.

The NSS complaint relates to two ceremonies, the Red Mass (Catholic) and the 'Kirking of the Court' (Protestant). At the ceremonies, which are attended by all levels of the judiciary in Scotland, judges are invited to request 'guidance from the Holy Spirit' for all who seek justice."

For the full article see http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/05/impartiality-of-scottish-judiciary-undermined-by-religious-ceremonies-say-nss

Taken from: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/05/impartiality-of-scottish-judiciary-undermined-by-religious-ceremonies-say-nss

Religion as a 'thought crime'?

Extracts from the Telegraph 'Christians launch landmark human rights case'

"Campaigners will submit papers to the European Court of Human Rights in a final attempt to overturn rulings they say have restricted religious freedom for Christians and effectively persecuted those wanting to publicly practise their religion...

...Papers in the three cases are to be submitted this week that will claim British courts are applying double standards towards Christians for “political” reasons, and that human rights rules have been used to effectively outlaw beliefs which have been held for millennia while affording special recognition to minority opinions on anything from fox hunting to climate change.

According to Paul Diamond, the religious rights barrister, who is representing Mr McFarlane and Mrs Chaplin, Mr McFarlane was "dismissed for his 'thoughts’ and 'religious beliefs’ on a wholly theoretical basis.”

“The case directly raises the question of conscience and 'thought crime’,” the papers say. 

Andrea Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Mr McFarlane and Mrs Chaplin, said: “We are throwing down the gauntlet to David Cameron to decide once and for all whether he is in favour of religious freedom or not.“These are cases where the only victims were the Christians trying to live out their faith in the workplace but who were driven out for doing so. As the pleadings in Gary McFarlane’s case make clear, Christians are now being punished for 'thought crimes’.”

Read the full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10007641/Christians-launch-landmark-human-rights-case.html

UN HRC Draft Resolution on Religion

From Reuters:

"The U.N. Human Rights Council approved a resolution drafted by the EU calling for an end to religious intolerance and violence and for all governments to observe freedom of religion and belief.

Introducing the non-binding resolution to the council, the EU described it as condemning "all forms of violence against, intolerance towards and discrimination of people on the basis of their religious or non-religious identity." "

However the Resolution has been criticised by some Atheist groups:

"Elizabeth O'Casey of the U.S.-based Centre for Inquiry said the EU refusal to include a direct reference to non-believers as needing protection alongside religious minorities "fails many millions of people across the globe".

According to Sonja Eggericks, president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, "[t]he wording of this resolution shows how the world, even the secular West, ignores the plight of atheists and other non-believers in many countries,"

But officials from the 27-member EU said they believed it was clear that the resolution - passed by consensus in the council where in the past there have been fierce struggles over religious freedom - covered believers and non-believers..."

See http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/22/us-rights-atheists-eu-idUSBRE92L0N520130322

Conservative MP's Private Members Bill (re HRA)

Update on the Private Members Bill from the National Secular Society:

"Conservative MP's Private Members Bill that sought to replace the Human Rights Act with a "UK Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" was withdrawn at the Second Reading last month.The Bill, which was presented by Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, was entitled the Human Rights Act 1998 (Repeal and Substitution) Bill.

The Bill would have included special privileges and exemptions for religion...

...The Bill that he proposed would have reduced the circumstances in which it was permissible to limit the right to manifest religion to the cause or incitement of physical harm to others."

Read the full atricle at: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/03/evangelical-mps-attempt-to-dismantle-human-rights-act-and-permit-religion-to-do-whatever-it-likes-falls-in-the-house-of-commons

Claim that applicant was refused job on basis of religion

"Graphic artist Jamie Haxby, who was turned down for work at Prested Hall Hotel, Feering, Essex for being a Christian

Mr Haxby has now lodged a complaint with the East London employment tribunal, saying: 'I have been unlawfully discriminated against for reasons relating to my Christian faith.' The Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr Haxby, said: 'Jamie's case is shocking, and shows that discrimination against Christians is getting more brazen. 'There's no place for this anti-Christian intolerance at the hands of aggressive atheists. It's high time the Government took the issue more seriously.'"

Read the article at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294472/You-work-youll-upset-atheists-What-hotel-told-jobseeker-discovering-committed-Christian.html

UK Withdrawal from ECtHR?

Adam Wagner answers some key questions....

http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2013/03/03/what-would-happen-if-the-uk-withdrew-from-the-european-court-of-human-rights/

Freedom of Religion in Public Schools

Freedom of Religion in Public Schools: Strasbourg Court v. UN Human Rights Committee
Excellent post on this topic at Strasbourg Observers:

"In a recent decision, the Human Rights Committee of the UN found a violation of the right to freedom of religion in a case concerning the famous and highly debated French law of 2004 that prohibits the wearing of religious garment in public schools...

...This is not the first time the UN Committee adopts a reasoning differing from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in freedom of religion cases. In both cases the Human Rights jurisdictions do not only differ on outcome (violation v. inadmissibility) but their approach towards the applicant is completely opposite. While the ECtHR views the cases merely in light of the interests of the State, the UN Committee balances the arguments of all parties in a more convincing way, taking the fundamental rights of the applicants seriously all the while acknowledging the State’s interests. Hence, with this case the UN Committee gives again a clear signal that a general principle such as secularism, however important, cannot blindly trump individuals’ rights, such as the right to freedom of religion, without looking at the particularities of the case."

http://strasbourgobservers.com/2013/02/14/freedom-of-religion-in-public-schools-strasbourg-court-v-un-human-rights-committee/