Readers will be aware of the impact of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 which, as amended, appears to protect a philosophical belief in the importance of combatting climate change, within the context of an employment relationship.
There is a helpful casenote on the judgement, written by Makbool Javaid, head of employment law at Simons Muirhead and Burton. Makbool explains:
A philosophical belief must have a similar status to a religious belief, but does not have to be shared by others or be a fully-developed system of thought that governs the whole of a person’s life. The EAT added that while a belief in a political philosophy or doctrine – such as socialism, Marxism, communism or capitalism – could qualify, protection would not be given to homophobic or racist political philosophies as these would not meet the criterion of being “worthy of respect in a democratic society”.
This is great news for environmentalists.
It is bad news for supporters of Al Muhajiroun, however, who would fail that test.
Here he the man who describes himself as Master of Kuffar Laws, calling non Muslims “kuffar”
Makbool Javaid’s name also appeared – in February 1998 – on a fatwa declaring jihad – by all means including military – against the UK and the US. That sort of belief, however heartfelt, is also unlikely to be protected under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.
