The first high-profile religious discrimination claim failed yesterday when a Muslim man, who worked for Virgin Trains [part of Virgin Group], lost an appeal over his beard...the Employment Appeal Tribunal said the panel that had originally heard the matter had been entitled to find that no unlawful discrimination was established...Mr Mohmed argued on appeal that the original tribunal had misapplied the "burden of proof" provisions. He also claimed it had erred by taking into account facts put forward by the company when deciding whether a prima facie case of discrimination had been established...In spite of forecasts that there would be a rash of claims once the new laws [barring unfair treatment on grounds of religion or sexual orientation] came into effect [in 2003], there have been relatively few other religious discrimination claims...One possible explanation is that workplace issues stemming from religious beliefs are resolved more quickly and with effect than some other discrimination matters.