Veganism is a belief protected under UK law, tribunal rules

By Sonia Elks

 

Sutton and Sons vegan fish and chip restaurant is seen in Hackney, London, Britain, October 1, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Choosing to be a vegan for ethical reasons is a "philosophical belief" that warrants protection by law, a tribunal in Britain has ruled in a landmark hearing.

 

The case involves vegan zoologist Jordi Casamitjana who claims he was fired by animal welfare charity League Against Cruel Sports due to his ethical veganism after a dispute over pension investments.

 

The charity says Casamitjana, aged 55, was dismissed for gross misconduct.

 

A judge found that ethical veganism - leading a life that avoids all harm to animals - is covered by Britain's Equality Act 2010 but has yet to rule on Casamitjana's dismissal.

 

The ruling will give vegans clearer rights to accommodations like suitable food at a work event, said Meghan Campbell, a law lecturer at the University of Birmingham.

 

"It definitely opens up the door for other beliefs to get protected status," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, citing climate activism as an example.

 

Casamitjana said he was "extremely happy" with the ruling.

 

"Many people have supported me because they, or their friends, have experienced discrimination for being ethical vegans," he said in a statement.

 

Vegans avoid eating meat and fish and other animal products like eggs and dairy.

 

Ethical veganism has no agreed definition but tends to go further by avoiding all links to animal exploitation such as wearing wool or leather, or using products tested on animals.

 

Casamitjana's beliefs in the sanctity of animal life "extend beyond matters of food into all areas of his consumption", according to documents submitted to the tribunal.

 

He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement.

 

Philosophical beliefs are protected under Britain's Equality Act which aims to prevent discrimination due to a person's religion or other deeply-held convictions.

 

For a belief to qualify it must relate to a "weighty aspect of human life" and be "worthy of respect in a democratic society".

 

Employers and employees "should be cautious not to draw blanket rules from one-off judgments", said Sarah Chilton, a partner at CM Murray law firm, who said each case would be assessed on its own merits.

 

(Reporting by Sonia Elks @soniaelks; Editing by Tom Finn. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-04

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

"...Choosing to be a vegan for ethical reasons is a "philosophical belief" that warrants protection by law, a tribunal in Britain has ruled in a landmark hearing..."

 

"...It definitely opens up the door for other beliefs to get protected status..."

 

Hmm...

 

Can I claim "Beerism" as my philosophical belief and get free beer at all events?

 

Just askin'

 

PS I am also a "Weed-ist" and a "Hot Young Thai Chick-ist" as a philosophical matter. Can I get those provided as well? You know; in order to be 'Spiritually complete'?

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Samui Bodoh

"He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement. "

 

And also, he floats above the ground, thus avoiding killing any other insects.

 

Don't believe it.

 

What other protected beliefs will be invented I wonder?

 

Beerism....? Yes, most definitely.

 

 

26 minutes ago, faraday said:

"He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement. "

 

And also, he floats above the ground, thus avoiding killing any other insects.

 

Don't believe it.

 

What other protected beliefs will be invented I wonder?

 

Beerism....? Yes, most definitely.

 

 

so he walks everywhere, very slowly so something doesn't fly into him, maybe he was a padded suit. so he must avoid trains; planes and automobiles, push bikes and motor bikes, what a sad life.

the world is going crazy, lucky no vegans in cave man days

32 minutes ago, faraday said:

And also, he floats above the ground, thus avoiding killing any other insects.

I remember watching a doco on Jain Dharma a few years back. They sweep the street in front of them while walking to avoid standing on an insect. Problem with this sort of "non violence" against any other living thing is they also had animal shelters where they "looked after" injured animals ... and let them suffer in pain until they eventually died!

 

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement.

Not only floating above the ground, but would have to avoid all types transport using fossil fuels, as animal/insects/birds injured in the extraction of said fuel/ no coal for heating or electric power. Power by wind generators out as birds / insects may fly into them and die

Not attending meetings where non vegan food supplied, he would never attend a meeting in that case, or eat food food delivered by powered vehicles.

Does he wear cotton/hemp shoes and what waterproofs does he use?

 

He would be a pretty inactive anti social fellow Im guessing

Live and let live.

• maybe a very isolated life...

 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Live and let live.

That was a Bond movie wasn't it?

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Vegans avoid eating meat and fish and other animal products like eggs and dairy.

But will queue outside Greggs to try a synthetic steak.

 

Old habits die hard.

Ok Im an insectisegan.............Im strongly  opposed to vegans eating plants and any plant associated  products to protect my insect friends food  source......the world gets  stupider by the minute

16 minutes ago, faraday said:

That was a Bond movie wasn't it?

No.

2 hours ago, faraday said:

"He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement. "

 

And also, he floats above the ground, thus avoiding killing any other insects.

 

Don't believe it.

 

What other protected beliefs will be invented I wonder?

 

Beerism....? Yes, most definitely.

 

 

How about the bacteria  and microbes he's killing everyday when walking  in his  biodegradeable, hemp,  equal rights, ethnic disabled, black, gay, lesbian ,transgender  made sandals sourced from organic fair trade locally  made with no E  numbers artificial flavourings or preservative? just wondrin like

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

beliefs

Theres  the worlds  stupidest argument.........

3 minutes ago, Salerno said:

No.

I strongly o-ject to any words with a "b"  in them............... its a load of old -alls......James -ond and -lowfelt would -e  laughing their cotton socks off

12 minutes ago, Salerno said:

No.

I forgot to insert an emoji....

 

????

Wrong Forum

Edited January 4, 20206 yr by Gandtee
wrong forum

52 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Live and let live.

Tell that to the  vegetables

To many nuts are now at risk save our almonds ???? 

Refusing to attend a meeting where non vegan food is supplied would be discrimination by him wouldn't it?

2 hours ago, faraday said:

"He tries to skip gatherings where non-vegan food is served, avoids sitting on leather seats, and will walk for up to an hour "to avoid accidental crashes with insects or birds that may occur when taking a bus", he said in a statement. "

 

And also, he floats above the ground, thus avoiding killing any other insects.

 

Don't believe it.

 

What other protected beliefs will be invented I wonder?

 

Beerism....? Yes, most definitely.

 

 

does he avoid showering? he may kill off innocent bacteria on his body. If he gets worms or any other parasite I suppose he would avoid antibiotics as well, let the little critters live, what a nutter. Are natural predators like lions evil ? If he is avoiding eggs and fish as well he is in for some serious damage to his body, we aren't pure vegetarians by nature and need at least some animal protein. There was a report in England from a vegan woman who went blind because of her diat.

I guess the Queen can now add another title to an already impressive list...

"Defender of the Vegans"????

10 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

I guess the Queen can now add another title to an already impressive list...

"Defender of the Vegans"????

Perhaps she would quote one of her predecessors. "We are not amused."

Just another mental problem to add to the ever growing list of officially approved.

It's OK to be Vegan!

Just don't be a virtue-signalling <deleted> about it.

Pakistani's and Indians are slowly taking over Britain.

Edited January 4, 20206 yr by fruitman

Many of us Brits will remember the consensus sent out in the past asking for our religion and the mass of people that wrote 'Jedi', which the government said they would not accept. Maybe Jedi can now be added. Certainly worth wasting more tax payers money arguing about it, rather than on anything useful.

3 hours ago, Salerno said:

No.

The Doctor is out then???

Who?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm one of the few sane people left in the world. This Casamitjana sounds like he needs sectioning. Another foreigner causing problems in the UK and the daft, lefty judiciary for supporting him.