• Ahmad Thomson, The French Hijab Ban [148k]
• Ahmad Thomson, Muslims in Europe and Human Rights [212k]
• Ahmad Thomson, Incorporating Muslim Personal Law into UK Domestic Law [80k]
• Ahmad Thomson, Religious Discrimination and the Human Rights Act 1998 [50k]
• Ahmad Thomson, Religious Discrimination and the Law [62k]
• Ahmad Thomson, Recommendations for the Forthcoming Religious Discrimination
        Legislation [98k]
• Ajmalul Hossain QC, Religious Discrimination Legislation: Is there a need? [78k]

The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 (ECHR) was incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998. Article 9 of the ECHR states:

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The Treaty of Amsterdam (2nd October 1997) amended the Treaty Establishing the European Community (25th March 1957) to incorporate what is now Article 13:

"Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty and within the limits of the powers conferred by it upon the Community, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, may take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. [emphasis added]"

On the authority of Article 13, the Council of the European Union on 27th November 2000 passed a directive (Directive 2000/78/EC) establishing "a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation."

• Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 (html)
• Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 (128k)

The DTI is responsible for implementing Council Directive 2000/78/EC, and is currently engaging in a consultation process.

• The Consultation paper (RTF 1.67 MB)
• Summary (15k)
• The draft regulation (91k)
• Explanatory notes (48k)
• Regulatory impact assessment (36k)

The deadline for comments on the consultation paper and draft regulation is 24 Janurary 2003

In 2001 the Research Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office published two reports on religious discrimination in England and Wales:

• Home Office Research Study 220 - Religious discrimination (569k). Findings from interviews in four case study areas and a postal survey of religious organisations.

• Home Office Research Study 221 - Tackling religious discrimination (231k). Explores the legislative options in question and answer format.

The Performance and Innovation Unit published on 20 February 2002 an interim analytical report on Ethnic Minorities in the Labour Market. The report presents a rigorous and comprehensive picture of the labour market achievements of ethnic minorities, the underlying causes of these achievements, and a review of the main policies that have been used to address these problems.

• Download the report here (1,366k)

House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences

• Read the AML press release
• AML Submission to the House of Lords - 17th October 2002 (58.9k)
• AML Further submissions - 24th October 2002 (57.6k)