Veganism is a protected philosophical belief

In Great Britain, a vegan lifestyle adopted for ethical reasons has been granted the status of a philosophical belief and is therefore protected under anti-discrimination law. This was decided by an employment tribunal in Norwich, eastern England, on Friday.

The claimant was a 55-year-old man who says he was dismissed because of his beliefs.

Ethical vegan

«I am an ethical vegan. This involves much more than not eating foods containing animal ingredients. It is a philosophy and a worldview that encompasses most aspects of my life», said Jordi Casamitjana, according to a statement from his lawyers.

The tribunal agreed with this argument. Ethical veganism is “important” and worthy of respect in a democratic society, the BBC quoted the judge as saying. Crucial to the ruling was the fact that Casamitjana not only follows a vegan diet but also, for example, avoids animal-derived materials in his clothing.

Employer's pension fund criticised

Casamitjana says he lost his job because he had criticised his employer's pension fund, which in his view had invested in companies involved in animal testing. His former employer, the organisation League Against Cruel Sports, denied that this was the reason for his dismissal.

A victory for animal rights worldwide

Whether the dismissal was lawful has not yet been decided by the tribunal. The animal welfare organisation had not contested the question of whether Casamitjana's beliefs deserved protection. He was “extremely happy”, said Casamitjana after the verdict was announced. “Greater protection means that more vegans can be more open about their beliefs. That can only be a good thing for the billions of animals who continue to be exploited by humans.»

About a crowdfunding campaign, Casamitjana financed his lawsuit against the League Against Cruel Sports. On his crowdfunding page, he stated: «My beliefs influence my daily life, including my career.» The My beliefs influence my daily life, including my career." The «Guardian» told Casamitjana that he tries to avoid taking the bus to prevent collisions with insects. He also refrains from eating figs because there is a species of wasp that lives in symbiosis with the fig fruit, and one can never know whether eating one might kill a larva. He does not use paper money to pay for things, because animal products are used in the manufacturing of banknotes.