In today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Eweida and Others v. the United Kingdom (application nos. 48420/10, 59842/10, 51671/10 and 36516/10), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held by five votes to two, that there had been a violation of Article 9 (freedom of religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights as concerned Ms Eweida, unanimously, that there had been no violation of Article 9 of the European Convention, taken alone or in conjunction with Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), as concerned Ms Chaplin and Mr McFarlane, and by five votes to two, that there had been no violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 9 as concerned Ms Ladele. All four applicants are practising Christians. Ms Eweida, a British Airways employee, and Ms Chaplin, a geriatrics nurse, complained that their employers placed restrictions on their visibly wearing Christian crosses around their necks while at work. Ms Ladele, a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and Mr McFarlane, a Relate counsellor complained about their dismissal for refusing to carry out certain of their duties which they considered would condone homosexuality. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Right to manifest religion at work is protected but must be balanced against rights of others
15. Januar 2013 — Dr. Georg NeureitherEGMR: Dimitras and Others v. Greece (no. 3) (nos. 44077/09, 15369/10 and 41345/10)
8. Januar 2013 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Panayote Dimitras, Andrea Gilbert, Nikolaos Mylonas, Grigoris Vallianatos, Evangelia Vlami, Antonia Papadopoulou, Nafsika Papanikolatou and Dimitris Tsabrounis, are Greek nationals who were born respectively in 1953, 1947, 1958, 1956, 1961, 1977, 1955 and 1966 and live in Glyka Nera Attikis (Greece). As members of Greek Helsinki Monitor, a non-governmental organisation active in the field of human rights protection, they took part in 48 sets of criminal proceedings concerning human rights issues in 2009 and 2010. They complained about being obliged in the context of those proceedings to reveal their (non-Orthodox) religious convictions when taking the oath in court. They relied in particular on Articles 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and 13 (right to an effective remedy). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgement on Tuesday 15 January 2013 – Eweida and Others v. the United Kingdom (nos. 48420/10, 59842/10, 51671/10 and 36516/10)
8. Januar 2013 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Nadia Eweida, Shirley Chaplin, Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane, are British nationals who were born in 1951, 1955, 1960 and 1961 and live in Twickenham, Exeter, London and Bristol (UK) respectively. Relying on Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), they complain that UK law does not sufficiently protect their rights to freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination at work. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgement on Tuesday 8 January 2013 – Dimitras and Others v. Greece (no. 3) (nos. 44077/09, 15369/10 and 41345/10)
2. Januar 2013 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Panayote Dimitras, Andrea Gilbert, Nikolaos Mylonas, Grigoris Vallianatos, Evangelia Vlami, Antonia Papadopoulou, Nafsika Papanikolatou and Dimitris Tsabrounis, are Greek nationals who were born respectively in 1953, 1947, 1958, 1956, 1961, 1977, 1955 and 1966 and live in Glyka Nera Attikis (Greece). As members of Greek Helsinki Monitor, a non-governmental organisation active in the field of human rights protection, they took part in 48 sets of criminal proceedings concerning human rights issues in 2009 and 2010. They complain about being obliged in the context of those proceedings to reveal their (non-Orthodox) religious convictions when taking the oath in court. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: On 30 January 2013 at 9.15 a.m.: Grand Chamber hearing in the case Fernandez Martinez v. Spain (no. 56030/07)
20. Dezember 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Mr José Antonio Fernández Martínez, is a Spanish national who was born in 1937 and lives in Cieza (Spain). He was ordained as a priest in 1961. In 1984, he applied to the Vatican for dispensation from celibacy, which was granted in 1997. He was married in a civil ceremony in 1985, and he and his wife have five children. He taught religion and ethics in a State high school from October 1991, his contract being renewed every year by the Bishop of the Diocese of Cartagena. In November 1996 the Murcia newspaper La Verdad published an article about the „Movement for Optional Celibacy“ for priests. It reported that Mr Fernández Martínez, a member of the movement, had previously been rector of a seminary, and published a photograph of him attending a meeting of the movement, together with his wife and their five children. The article included comments by a number of participants indicating their disagreement with the Church’s position on abortion, divorce, sexuality and contraception. On 29 September 1997, the Diocese of Cartagena informed the Ministry of Education of its intention not to renew Mr Fernández Martínez’s contract for the 1997/98 school year. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Grand Chamber hearing concerning refusal to register an Orthodox clergy trade union in Romania
7. November 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights is holding a Grand Chamber hearing today Wednesday 7 November 2012 at 9.15 a.m. in the case of Sindicatul Păstorul cel Bun v. Romania (application no. 2330/09). The case concerns a union set up by members of the clergy and lay members of the Orthodox Church, and the refusal to register it as a trade union. The hearing will be broadcast from 2.30 p.m. on the Court’s Internet site (www.echr.coe.int). After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which will be held in private. Its ruling in the case will, however, be made at a later stage. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Jehovas Zeugen in Österreich v. Austria (no. 27540/05)
25. September 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Jehovas Zeugen, was a religious community established in Austria under the Religious Communities Act until May 2009 when it was granted the status of a religious society. The case concerned its complaint that it had been discriminated against before May 2009 when it was a religious community, as it had been subject to laws concerning employees and tax from which it would have been exempt had it been a recognised religious society. In particular, it would have been able to employ two ministers from the Philippines in 2002 for the benefit of its Tagalog speaking members in Austria and it could have been exempt from inheritance and gift tax for a donation made to it in 1999. It relied on Article 9 (freedom of religion), Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Hearing in four cases concerning freedom of religion
4. September 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights is holding a public hearing today Tuesday 4 September 2012 at 9 a.m. on the admissibility and merits in the following cases: Chaplin v. the United Kingdom (application no. 59842/10), Eweida v. the United Kingdom (no. 48420/10), Ladele v. the United Kingdom (no. 51671/10) and McFarlane v. the United Kingdom (no. 36516/10), concerning four practising Christians’ complaints that UK law did not sufficiently protect their rights to freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination at work. The hearing will be broadcast from 2.30 p.m. on the Court’s Internet site (www.echr.coe.int). After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which will be held in private. Its ruling in the case will, however, be made at a later stage. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Case referred to the Grand Chamber concerning refusal to register an Orthodox clergy trade union in Romania
19. Juli 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe following case has been referred to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights: Sindicatul Păstorul Cel Bun v. Romania (no. 2330/09), which concerns a union set up by members of the clergy and lay members of the Orthodox Church, and the refusal to register it as a trade union. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Fusu Arcadie and Others v. Republic of Moldova (no. 22218/06)
17. Juli 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Arcadie Fusu, Petru Botezat, Tatiana Rusu, Svetlana Covalciuc, GalinaBujor, Vera Boţoc, Vladimir Ţurcanu and Iacob Ciobanu, are eight Moldovan nationals who were born in 1964, 1949, 1965, 1959, 1952, 1937, 1951 and 1930, respectively, and live in Floreşti (the Republic of Moldova). Relying in particular on Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), the applicants complained about the authorities’ failure to register their church, a religious denomination of the Christian Orthodox Church subordinate to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia. The applicant church’s complaint is part of an ongoing conflict with another denomination of the Orthodox Church in Floreşti, subordinate to the Metropolitan Church of Moldova. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Tarhan v. Turkey (no. 9078/06)
17. Juli 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Mehmet Tarhan, is a Turkish national who was born in 1977 and lives in Sivas (Turkey). The case concerns his refusal to do military service because of his pacifist beliefs. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Refusal to allow Raelian Movement’s poster campaign was necessary in a democratic society and did not breach its right to freedom of expression
13. Juli 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Mouvement raëlien suisse v. Switzerland (application no. 16354/06), which is final, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been no violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned the authorities’ refusal to allow the association Mouvement raëlien suisse (Swiss Raelian Movement) to put up posters featuring extraterrestrials and a flying saucer on the ground that it engaged in activities that were considered immoral. The Court found that the refusal had met a “pressing social need” and that the authorities had not overstepped the broad margin of appreciation given to them in view of the non-political dimension of the poster campaign. The restriction was, moreover, limited to the display of posters on public facilities, allowing the association to use other means of expression. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Landowner should not be obliged to tolerate hunting on his premises
26. Juni 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Herrmann v. Germany (application no. 9300/07), which is final, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been: a violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property) to the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned a landowner’s complaint about being forced to accept hunting on his land, even though he is morally opposed to hunting. The Court held in particular that the obligation to tolerate hunting on their property imposed a disproportionate burden on landowners in Germany who were opposed to hunting for ethical reasons. The Court thereby followed its findings in two previous judgments concerning hunting legislation in France and Luxembourg. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming Grand Chamber judgment in case against Germany concerning mandatory membership of landowner in hunting association
21. Juni 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights will be delivering a Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Herrmann v. Germany (application no. 9300/07) at a public hearing in Strasbourg on Tuesday 26 June 2012 at 4:00 pm. The case concerns a landowner’s complaint about being forced to accept hunting on his land, even though he is morally opposed to hunting. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Complaint about prohibition of Islamic organisation’s activities in Germany declared inadmissible
19. Juni 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn its decision in the case of Hizb Ut-Tahrir and Others v. Germany (application no. 31098/08) the European Court of Human Rights has by a majority declared the application inadmissible. The decision is final. The case concerned the prohibition in Germany of the activities of an Islamic association, which advocates the overthrow of non-Islamic governments and the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate. The Court held in particular that under Article 17 (prohibition of abuse of rights) of the European Convention on Human Rights, it was impossible to derive from the Convention a right to engage in an activity aimed at destroying any of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention. The association could therefore not rely on Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) to complain about the ban on its activities. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Bishop’s decision not to renew the teaching contract of a married priest supporting the Movement for Optional Celibacy was covered by religious freedom under the Convention
15. Mai 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Fernández Martínez v. Spain (application no. 56030/07), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been no violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned the decision not to renew the contract of a priest, who was married with five children, to teach Catholic religion and morals, following the publication of an article disclosing his membership of the „Movement for Optional Celibacy“. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Difference between retirement pensions of Catholic priests and Evangelical ministers amounted to discrimination
3. April 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case Manzanas Martín v. Spain (application no. 17966/10), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) taken together with Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned a difference in treatment between priests of the Catholic Church and Evangelical ministers regarding the calculation of their pension rights. Whilst priests could have their previous years of religious service taken into account in calculating their retirement pension – by paying the corresponding contributions – Evangelical ministers could not bring into account their years of service prior to joining the social-security scheme. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Refusal to register an Orthodox clergy trade union breached right to freedom of association
31. Januar 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case Sindicatul Păstorul cel Bun v. Romania (application no. 2330/09), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been a violation of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned a union set up by members of the clergy and lay members of the Orthodox Church, and its entry in the trade unions register. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Feti Demirtas v. Turkey (no. 5260/07)
17. Januar 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Mr Feti Demirtas, is a Turkish national who was born in 1981 and lives in Istanbul. He was baptised as a Jehovah’s Witness at the age of 20 and refuses to perform his military service. He has declared his willingness to perform alternative civilian service. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Bukharatyan v. Armenia (application no. 37819/03), Tsaturyan v. Armenia (no. 37821/03)
10. Januar 2012 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Hayk Bukharatyan and Ashot Tsaturyan, are Armenian nationals who were both born in 1980 and live in Yerevan. Jehova’s Witnesses, they complained about being convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in April 2003 for refusing to serve in the army. They relied on Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Religion – Weltanschauung – Recht [ RWR ] 