The name can evoke images of pins that are stuck in images – but Voodoo is a protected religious belief, an employment tribunal has ruled for the first time.
Religion has 'clear teachings' and 'tries to explain the place of humanity in the universe' with its concepts of spirits and divinity, a panel said.
As such, the voodooism is 'more than just an opinion', which means that the followers cannot be discriminated against according to the laws in the workplace.
The ruling came in the case of a councilor who sued his employers for racial and religious intimidation after a colleague said: “I am like a voodoo doll with needles in her eyes.”
Carl Wint is not a believer in Voodoo, but argued that as a Christian he was offended by the mention of the other religion, and the remark was made because he has Jamaican heritage.
The supporting officer for young people lost his case against Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council after the panel discovered that it was a 'poorly rated disposable commentary' that was not aimed at him.
The supporting officer for young people lost his case against Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, depicted after the panel had discovered that it was a 'poorly rated disposable commentary' that was not aimed at him
Voodooism is 'more than just an opinion', which means that the followers cannot be discriminated against according to the laws in the workplace. Image: a voodoo chef bless a voodoo -worshiper during the annual Voodoo festival in Ouiidah, Benin, West -Africa
The Birmingham Tribunal heard that colleague Mandy SHONE made the 'Voodoo' remark in reference to how exhausted she was in a night shift, and compared herself with a doll with pins that opened her eyes.
Mrs SHONE said she would have made the same comment for a white colleague.
To determine whether the Lord Wint had been harassed, the tribunal had to first decide whether Voodoo should be a protected belief that has never been tested.
Employment judge Kate Edmonds concluded that practice is a religion, despite the fact that they do not have a central text, because there are 'clear teachings' for followers to live towards.
In the case of the Lord, because the remark was not aimed at him and was only 'thoughtless', it was not an intimidation.
The tribunal also discovered that a conviction only in Voodoo dolls would not be protected because they are not a 'authentic element' of Voodoo and have been presented wrong in popular culture.
Based on traditional African practices, Voodoo is mainly followed in the Caribbean.
