Equality and Human Rights Commission

Under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, you have the right to hold your own religious beliefs or other philosophical beliefs similar to a religion. You also have the right to have no religion or belief.

Under the Equality Act 2006, it is unlawful for someone to discriminate against you because of your religion or belief (or because you have no religion or belief):

• in any aspect of employment
• when providing goods, facilities and services
• when providing education
• in using or disposing of premises, or
• when exercising public functions.

There are, however, some limited exceptions when discrimination may be lawful. You can find out more about these in this section of the site.

Under British anti-discrimination and human rights legislation, you are also entitled to practise your religion or belief, express your views and get on with your day-to-day life without experiencing threats or discrimination.

Find out more about your legal rights and what to do if you are being discriminated against on grounds of religion or belief on the following pages:

• What is a religion?
• What is a belief?
• What is religious discrimination?
• When and where could discrimination take place?
• When does the law allow religious discrimination?
• What does the law say?

Religion and belief research

• Research report 48 ‘Religion or belief’: Identifying issues and priorities (PDF)
• Research report 48 ‘Religion or belief’: Identifying issues and priorities (word)