The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has confirmed that the three unsuccessful applicants in Eweida and others v United Kingdom – Chaplin, Ladele & McFarlane – will not have their cases considered further in the Court’s Grand Chamber. In January 2013 the ECHR upheld Eweida's claim that her Article 9 right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights was breached when she was prevented from wearing a cross at work. But, the ECHR rejected three other religious discrimination claims, i.e.:
• Chaplin, a nurse, who is a Christian, and who was moved to a desk job after refusing to remove her crucifix necklace at work because of health and safety concerns;
• Ladele, a registrar with strong Christian beliefs about marriage, who was threatened with dismissal for refusing to carry out civil partnership ceremonies and registration; and
• McFarlane, a relationship counsellor, who is a Christian, and who was dismissed for refusing to counsel same-sex couples on sexual matters.
Under Rule 73 of the Court Rules, a party can request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber where it can show there is a serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention, or there is a serious issue of general importance, which warrants consideration by the Grand Chamber. Clearly the five reviewing judges felt there were no grounds for further consideration and the decision is now final.
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