“A VICTORY for common sense” is how yesterday’s rulings on religious discrimination by the European Court of Human Rights have been regarded by many.

While discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation can never be condoned, equally it cannot be right for people belonging to certain groups to use this status as a tool to gain special treatment.

Judges from the ECHR have upheld the principle that equality law should be properly used to level the playing field for everyone and protect people from discrimination, rather than to allow individuals from groups differing from the majority to secure preferential treatment.

Britain is a democracy, with citizens enjoying freedoms and rights they would be denied under other regimes.

A cornerstone of democracy is tolerance, a principle which has been underlined by these cases.

As well as enjoying the protections under the law provided by a liberal democracy, individuals – and that includes all individuals – also have a responsibility to afford the same tolerance and respect to people from other groups – and this responsibility increases in secular environments, particularly the work place.

The judgement has clearly indicated that while people have the right to freedom of religious expression, if this conflicts with other people’s rights in the work place, that right is severely restricted.

It also entitles employers to put in place reasonable policies and oblige all employees to adhere to these, regardless of religious persuasion.

As North-East lawyer Paul Johnstone says, the law is there as shield to protect people from discrimination, rather than a sword to justify preferential treatment.

However, whether this will be the last word on this subject remains to be seen as the three claimants who were unsuccessful with their bids to sue the Birtish Government intend to appeal against the decision to the Grand Chamber. Watch this space for the verdict. 

AS you may have read in Talking Business a few weeks previously, I am leaving The Northern Echo on Friday after six years to pursue a career in public relations, so this is my last chance to give my opinion in this fine publication.

Regional news is hugely important to communities and I would continue to encourage North-East companies and individuals to support local and regional publications by buying them and advertising with them. The Northern Echo has many highly talented and dedicated journalists who passionately care about the communities they live and work in, and who are a real asset to the region.

Finally, I’d like thank my colleagues for their help and friendship over the years, and say it’s been both a great honour and pleasure to work for The Northern Echo, which despite changes the industry has undergone over the past decade, is still undoubtedly one of the best regional media outlets in the UK.