British Tribunal Awards Wiccan Witch Damages For Unfair Dismissal and Religious Discrimination In Employment

In Britain, in the first case of its kind, an Employment Tribunal at Watford (near London) has awarded a total of over £15,000 ($24,500 US) for unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and religious discrimination in a suit brought by a Wiccan witch who claims she was fired by her employers who were horrified when they learned of her beliefs.  According to last week's Daily Mail, Karen Holland had worked for two years at the newspaper and magazine concession at the Londis store in West Hemple when in October the news agency was taken over by two brothers, Tarloch and Gurnam Singh (who are Sikhs). They discovered Holland's beliefs later that month when she returned from celebrating All Hallows' Eve (also known as the Pagan Festival of the Dead).  They began to ridicule her and fired her the next month after accusing her of stealing a magazine and a lottery ticket. In finding for Holland, the Tribunal judge said that the manner in which she was fired was "indefensible" and breached "the basics of natural justice." The owners are appealing the decision, saying the damage award will destroy their business.