[Miscellaneous]

@Jim Jones religious gatherings don't quite fit that model of gathering though. A closer analogy would be club members and social groups.

[eltonioni]

The Law should be tested as often as reasonably possible to make sure that it's fit for purpose. This application has the sniff of unintended consequences being opened up that the applicant might come to regret. There's no public mood for exceptions for groups who think they are a bit special.

[Jim Jones]

@Jim Jones religious gatherings don't quite fit that model of gathering though. A closer analogy would be club members and social groups.

My suggestion was to ensure freedom to worship in that manner must be linked to consequences. A test of faith if you will.

I think those protesting in the court are not those who are ‘average’ faithful who need to live and work in the wider community. A large gathering that then disperses is dangerous to all of us. One that agrees to prevent that danger by quarantine is no problem imho.

[Miscellaneous]

@Jim Jones sadly I don't believe those wishing to challenge the law to enable them to mix are likely to abide by more complex self isolation rules.

[PeteSpencer]

Did you go down for a few punchups in Brighton then ?

Nah: We Vespa owners were very much looked down on by the majority of Mods who were all Lambretta owners and had big enough batteries for all the extra headlights.

Peter

[Spooky]

Shades of the Sikhs/Turbans/Crashhelmets hoo-har when compulsory crash helmets were introduced for motor bikes in the 60s.

And the Kirpan dilemma

Oops typo

Peter

Wasn’t an issue following the introduction of the Trotter Crash Turban

[Jim Jones]

@Jim Jones sadly I don't believe those wishing to challenge the law to enable them to mix are likely to abide by more complex self isolation rules.

That’s perhaps a matter the High Court May consider as part of its reasoning, that the desire to congregate for whatever reason, is an indication of an unwillingness to act responsibly under current circumstances. Unless of course it can be demonstrated that it will not endanger others, something turban wearing motorcyling Sikhs succeeded in doing.

[FlarePath]

There's no public mood for exceptions for groups who think they are a bit special.

Pilots?

[JoeC]

It beggars belief

All seems rather reasonable and British. Man takes issue to court to argue case and loses.

In the meantime thousands flock to beaches and flout reasonable rules yet are not subject to such outrage.

[Bill Haddow]

All seems rather reasonable and British. Man takes issue to court to argue case and loses.

In the meantime thousands flock to beaches and flout reasonable rules yet are not subject to such outrage.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 Section 5 (5) & (6) require closure of places of worship. That is a rule.

People going to the beach alone, or in a discrete group of members of the same household, are taking exercise. Specifically permitted in Section 6 (2) (b). If others are doing the same, it is no more of a "gathering" than being on a bus or train with a bunch of strangers is. What rule is being flouted?

Bill H

[Paul_Sengupta]

Quite. If people on the beach are two metres apart and in the open air, the risk of transmission is low.

[Bill Haddow]

Quite. If people on the beach are two metres apart and in the open air, the risk of transmission is low.

Quite so, and as far as I can see no actual rule requiring "social distancing" in this context; guidance and recommendation yes, legal obligation, no.

Bill H

[Flyin'Dutch']

One of the UK's problems is that it is not a secular state and until recent times, when the state religion was very much intertwined with what is considered 'British' and the minorities were small and kept themselves to themselves, that was not a problem.

Minorities are now not quite so small and want to exert the same rights as the State religion there is resistance.

But is your head of state is also the leader of the State Religion and therefore secularisation all but a distant dream for atheists, and the first in line of succession is claiming divine anointment, as well as calling peasants to a land army, there's little hope that others will stop trying to use their religious exceptionalist card soon.

It being their perceived right to enable mass infections or the right to sustain brain injuries by riding motorcycles sans head protection.

[GrahamB]

Minorities are now not quite so small and want to exert the same rights as the State religion there is resistance.

In regard to the OP, and in this case, in what way are the Moslem community being denied rights that Protestant adherents have?

I didn’t see churches and cathedrals being allowed to open their doors for mass gatherings over Easter this year.

[johnm]

Churches and all other places of worship are closed end of. The cleric is quite entitled to test the law and to see whether his perception of human rights trumps the Covid related laws.

It's just following due process, nothing to see here.....

What really beggars belief is the numpties heading for the beach and elsewhere in crowds, where the they've been clearly told they aren't welcome and there are no facilities at all even the public toilets are closed.