TESCO was recently accused of religious discrimination after the company ordered the founder of a Jedi religion to remove his hood or leave a branch of the supermarket in Bangor, North Wales.

Daniel Jones, founder of the religion inspired by the Star Wars films, said he was humiliated and victimized for his beliefs. The 23-year-old, who founded the International Church of Jediism, which has 500,000 followers worldwide, said his religion dictated that he should wear a hood in public places and is considering legal action.

Is it fair to ask a Jedi Knight to remove his hood when a nun is able to wear her habit while shopping, or a Muslim woman her hijab?

Sister Marion Gormley from St Joseph’s in Branksome told me: “I would be very surprised if Tesco stopped a monk or a nun.

“Within reason we should all have equal rights to express what we believe in.

“As long as he was not harming anyone else I don’t really see the problem. “We have to be careful of the assumptions we make about anybody’s appearance or the way they dress.

“I really do wonder when common sense will once again rule our lives!”

Tariq Palmer at Bournemouth Islamic Centre and Central Mosque said: “The fact that Muslim women are condemned because of their headdress (even Jack Straw did not want them covered at his surgeries!) and yet nuns can wear their habit without inciting fear, exemplifies the worst aspects of our society. “Where will it end? A nurse loses her job for praying at the bedside of a patient and an air stewardess is threatened with dismissal for wearing a cross.

“Now a Jedi is thrown out of a supermarket for wearing a hooded garment!

“God’s creation has Divine rights and all people should be allowed to live their lives without fear of hatred, condemnation or prosecution for wearing certain apparel. “Religious people deserve equal status, but the laws of this country have now reached such depravity and stupidity that fuels every type of phobia.

“More importantly, the government of the day wishes to diminish the status of religion in this country and revert to pure secularism.”

Tariq added: “Tesco should be prosecuted for their crass behaviour.”