TL:DR version - Exemptions for all religions or for no religions

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a core public authority, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (hereinafter "DVLA" or "the DVLA") is responsible for issuing driver's licences in the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter "ECHR"), Article 9 of which reads, in part, as follows;

“[e]veryone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance”.

Article 9 ECHR is subject only to limits as are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 10 ECHR provides that “[e]veryone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers”.  Article 10 ECHR is subject to limits only as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

Article 14 ECHR provides that “[t]he enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

These provisions are imported into the national law of the United Kingdom by operation of section 1 and and Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

The colander/pasta strainer is regarded as a holy garment by followers of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, who are known as Pastafarians.

The DVLA allows followers of other religions to don their holy headwear in licence photographs.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the DVLA has refused to recognise that the colander/pasta strainer is a head covering worn for religious reasons.

Please communicate your disagreeance with the DVLA's, prima facie unlawful, stance by signing this petition.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was “Arrrgh!”"

Piraticus 13:7

Remember, 'Arrrgh' is for religious liberty. R'amen.