The recent case of a Muslim woman in France who won a court ruling that she had been unfairly dismissed from her job in a private nursery school after she refused to remove a headscarf appears to have sparked a backlash.

France's top court ruled on Tuesday that a Muslim woman who was sacked for wearing the Islamic headscarf at work was unfairly dismissed on the basis of her religion.

YouGov has been conducting surveys on public attitudes to the wearing of religious clothing and symbols in the workplace. The polls were taken in the light of the four cases recently heard in the European Court of Human Rights.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has surpassed himself in an opinion piece for the Telegraph headed A Christian ethos strengthens our nation: Religion shaped the modern British state, and this Government is proud to 'do God'.

Four controversial British religious discrimination cases are due to be heard at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Tuesday 4 September 2012. The outcome will have a huge impact on how future equality cases involving religion are determined.

A proposal to adopt a 'secular charter' from one party leader has sparked controversy in Quebec ahead of the forthcoming elections on 4 September. The proposed charter would ban civil servants from wearing or exposing overt religious symbols — with the notable exception of the crucifix.

A Muslim woman in London who claimed she had been sacked from her job in a luggage shop because she wore a headscarf has won her claim of unfair dismissal but lost a claim of direct religious discrimination.

Conservative MPs in Poland have complained to the national airline LOT that banning staff wearing the Roman Catholic cross on flights is "discriminatory" and "unconstitutional".

A Norwegian government-appointed committee is set to make recommendations that will allow police and judges to wear clothing and personal effects with religious overtones, including the Muslim hijab.

Teachers in Swedish schools have been given permission to ban students from wearing Islamic veils that cover their faces, in certain situations. But there can be no general ban on headcoverings such as the hijab or scarves.