Human Rights Act 1998

The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) incorporates the rights and freedoms set out in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. The rights protected include Article 9, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and Article 14, prohibition of discrimination.

Article 9 protects the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and includes the freedom to change your religion or belief, and to manifest your beliefs, either alone or with others, in public or in private, through worship, teaching, practice and observance. Whilst freedom of thought, conscience and religion are absolute rights and not subject to any limitations, the freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs can be limited on the grounds listed in Article 9(2), which essentially relate to public interest considerations.

Article 14 does not provide a general right to freedom from discrimination. It provides that the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention are open to all without discrimination on, among other things, religion.

Section 6 of the HRA makes it unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a Convention right. A public authority includes a court and any person who exercises functions of a public nature, for example, the police, hospitals, schools, local authorities etc.