In today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Assemblée Chrétienne Des Témoins de Jéhovah d’Anderlecht and Others v. Belgium (application no. 20165/20) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) read in conjunction with Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights and with Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property) to the Convention. The case concerned congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses which complained of being denied exemption from payment of a property tax (précompte immobilier) in respect of properties in the Brussels-Capital Region used by them for religious worship. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: Failure to grant congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses exemption from property tax in the Brussels-Capital Region since 2018 was discriminatory
April 5, 2022 — Georg NeureitherBundestag: Serbisch-orthodoxe Religionsgemeinschaft in Montenegro
Oktober 22, 2020 — Georg NeureitherDer Bundesregierung sind keine Einschränkungen wegen der Zugehörigkeit zur serbisch-orthodoxen Religionsgemeinschaft durch den Staat oder durch Parteien und Organisationen in Montenegro bekannt. Wie sie in der Antwort (BT-Dr 19/23407) auf eine Kleine Anfrage der AfD-Fraktion (BT-Dr 19/22521) schreibt, habe die serbisch-orthodoxe Kirche eine „traditionell starke Stellung in der montenegrinischen Gesellschaft, trotz offizieller Trennung von Kirche und Staat“. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Bundestag: Situation von Religionsgemeinschaften in Montenegro
September 30, 2020 — Georg NeureitherDie Lage von Religionsgemeinschaften in Montenegro thematisiert die AfD-Fraktion in einer Kleinen Anfrage (BT-Dr 19/22521). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Bosnia and Herzegovina must enforce decisions ordering removal of church built on Srebrenica genocide survivors’ land
Oktober 1, 2019 — Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Orlović and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina (application no. 16332/18) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, 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 church built by the Serbian Orthodox Parish on the applicants’ land after they had had to flee their property during the 1992– 95 war. The Court found in particular that the authorities’ failure to comply with final and binding decisions of 1999 and 2001 ordering full repossession of the land by the applicants, without any justification on the part of the Government for such inaction, had seriously frustrated their property rights. It also held, by six votes to one, under Article 46 (binding force and implementation) that the respondent State had to ensure enforcement of the two decisions in the applicants’ favour, including in particular the removal of the church from the applicants’ land, at the latest within three months of this judgment becoming final. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 1 October 2019 – Orlović and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina (application no. 16332/18)
September 26, 2019 — Georg NeureitherThe applicants are a family of 14 citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, born between 1942 and 1982. They live in Konjević Polje and Srebrenik, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They survive the first applicant’s husband and more than 20 other relatives who were killed in the Srebrenica genocide in 1995. The case concerns a church built by the Serbian Orthodox Parish on the applicants’ land after they had to flee their property in Konjević Polje during the 1992–95 war. The property belonged to the first applicant’s husband and his brother and consisted of several individual and agricultural buildings, fields and meadows. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Kosmas and Others v. Greece (no. 20086/13)
Juni 29, 2017 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe applicants are five Greek nationals, George Kosmas, his wife Kyratso Kosma and their three children, who live on the island of Skopelos. The case concerned the privileges enjoyed by monasteries in Greece relating to real estate of which they had been claiming ownership before the courts. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
Jens Felix Müller, Religiöse Kunst im Konflikt zwischen Urheberrecht und Sacheigentum
März 1, 2017 — Georg NeureitherIn vielen Fällen können die Interessen des Eigentümers eines Kunstwerks mit denjenigen des Urhebers in Konflikt geraten. Dies droht insbesondere, wenn der Umgang des Eigentümers mit seinem Werkstück das Immaterialgüterrecht des Schöpfers berührt. Besonders vielschichtig ist dieser Interessenkonflikt bei Werken der religiösen Kunst. Hier können auf Seiten der Beteiligten religiöse Motive eine Rolle spielen; bei der Konfliktentscheidung können dann insbesondere Wertungen der Religionsfreiheit und des kirchlichen Selbstbestimmungsrechts zu berücksichtigen sein. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
LG Köln: Urteil im Verfahren gegen acht Angeklagte wegen Einbrüchen in Kirchen und Schulen
Januar 30, 2017 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenDie 1. Große Strafkammer des LG Köln hat am 30.01.2017 in einem Verfahren gegen insgesamt acht Angeklagte Freiheitsstrafen von 2 Jahren und 7 Monaten bis zu 4 Jahren und 10 Monaten verhängt. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Sociedad Anónima del Ucieza v. Spain (no. 38963/08)
Dezember 20, 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe applicant company, Sociedad Anónima del Ucieza, is a limited company founded in 1978 under Spanish law, based in Ribas de Campos (Palencia). The case concerned the company’s ownership claim over religious buildings on a plot of land which had formerly belonged to the Catholic Church and which the company purchased at a public auction. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 20 December 2016 – Sociedad Anónima del Ucieza v. Spain (no. 38963/08)
Dezember 16, 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe applicant company, Sociedad Anónima del Ucieza, is a limited company founded in 1978 under Spanish law, based in Ribas de Campos (Palencia). The case concerned the company’s ownership claim over religious buildings on a plot of land which had formerly belonged to the Catholic Church and which the company purchased at a public auction. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Breach of the principle of legal certainty in a case concerning the restitution of a place of worship (no. 76943/11)
November 29, 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenIn today’s Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Lupeni Greek Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11) the European Court of Human Rights held: Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
OLG Stuttgart: Klagen über Vermögenswerte im Umfeld des Klosters Neresheim auch in zweiter Instanz abgewiesen
November 22, 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenDer 6. Zivilsenat des OLG Stuttgart unter dem Vorsitz von Dr. Oliver Mosthaf wies mit am 22.11.2016 verkündeten Urteilen die Berufungen der Kläger in drei Verfahren über Vermögenswerte im Umfeld des Klosters Neresheim zurück. Der Senat bestätigte damit im Ergebnis Entscheidungen des LG Ellwangen, das die geltend gemachten Ansprüche für nicht bewiesen erachtet hatte. Kläger waren zwei Privatpersonen (6 U 156/14) und ein Rechtsanwalt (6 U 181/14 und 6 U 183/14), der im Berufungsverfahren zugleich eine der beiden Privatpersonen vertrat. Beklagter war ein rechtsfähiger Verein mit dem Namen „Benediktinerkloster Neresheim e.V.“. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Forthcoming Grand Chamber judgment in a case concerning the restitution of a place of worship (no. 76943/11)
November 22, 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe European Court of Human Rights will be delivering a Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Lupeni Greek Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11) at a public hearing on 29 November 2016 at 4 p.m. in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg. The case concerned a request for restitution of a place of worship that had belonged to the Greek Catholic Church and was transferred during the totalitarian regime to the ownership of the Orthodox Church. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Rozalia Avram v. Romania (no. 19037/07)
April 5, 2016 — Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Rozalia Avram, is a Romanian national who was born in 1947 and lives in Arad (Romania). The case concerned a building which formerly belonged to the Catholic diocese of Oradea and became State property under limitation legislation. Several apartments in the building were sold to the tenants, including Ms Avram. In 1998 the diocese applied to the domestic courts for restitution of the building, but its application was dismissed by the Timişoara Court of Appeal. The diocese then brought an action for cancellation of the contracts of sale of the apartments, which action was this time allowed by the same Court of Appeal. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 5 April 2016 – Rozalia Avram v. Romania (no. 19037/07)
April 1, 2016 — Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Rozalia Avram, is a Romanian national who was born in 1947 and lives in Arad (Romania). The case concerns a building which formerly belonged to the Catholic diocese of Oradea and became State property under limitation legislation. Several apartments in the building were sold to the tenants, including Ms Avram. In 1998 the diocese applied to the domestic courts for restitution of the building, but its application was dismissed by the Timişoara Court of Appeal. The diocese then brought an action for cancellation of the contracts of sale of the apartments, which action was this time allowed by the same Court of Appeal. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
OLG Celle: Klosterkammer Hannover – Urteil im Verfahren über die Kündigung eines Stiftungsvertrages
März 10, 2016 — Georg NeureitherDie Kündigung eines Stiftungsvertrages, die der Beklagte ausgesprochen hatte, ist unwirksam. Dies hat der 16. Zivilsenat des OLG Celle festgestellt. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Grand Chamber hearing in a case concerning the claim for the restitution of a place of worship – Lupeni Greek-Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11)
März 2, 2016 — Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights is holding a Grand Chamber hearing on Wednesday 2 March 2016 at 9.15 a.m. in the case of Lupeni Greek Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11). The case concerns the claim for the restitution of a place of worship belonging to the Greek-Catholic Church that was transferred to the ownership of the Orthodox Church under the totalitarian regime. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming hearing in March 2016 – Lupeni Greek-Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11)
Februar 29, 2016 — Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights will be holding the following hearing in March 2016: Lupeni Greek-Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11) concerning the restitution of places of worship belonging to the Greek-Catholic Church that were transferred to the ownership of the Orthodox Church under the totalitarian regime. 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: The Siseşti Greek-Catholic Parish v. Romania (no. 32419/04)
November 3, 2015 — Georg NeureitherThe applicant is the Siseşti Parish of the Eastern-Rite Catholic Church, also known as the Greek-Catholic or Uniate Church. The case concerned an action to recover possession of property which had been confiscated from the Parish when the communist regime was established in 1948. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 3 November 2015 – The Siseşti Greek-Catholic Parish v. Romania (no. 32419/04)
Oktober 30, 2015 — Georg NeureitherThe applicant is the Siseşti Parish of the Eastern-Rite Catholic Church, also known as the Greek-Catholic or Uniate Church. The case concerns an action to recover possession of property which had been confiscated from the Parish when the communist regime was established in 1948. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Grand Chamber Panel’s decision – Lupeni Greek Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11)
Oktober 20, 2015 — Georg NeureitherAt its last meeting (Monday 19 October 2015), the Grand Chamber panel of five judges decided to refer the following case to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights: Lupeni Greek Catholic Parish and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11), concerning the restitution of places of worship belonging to the Greek Catholic Church which were transferred to the Orthodox Church under the totalitarian regime, and more specifically the question of the application of a special law to determine the legal status of such property. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Action for recovery of possession of a former Uniate Church place of worship – Right of access to court was respected but length of proceedings was excessive
Mai 19, 2015 — Georg NeureitherThe European Court of Human Rights delivered its Chamber judgment in the case of Greek-Catholic Parish of Lupeni and Others v. Romania (application no. 76943/11). The case concerned the restitution of places of worship belonging to the Greek-Catholic Church which were transferred to the Orthodox Church under the totalitarian regime, and more specifically the question of the application of a special law to determine the legal status of such property. The Court held, unanimously, that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair hearing) of the European Convention on Human Rights as regards the right of access to a court and the question of legal certainty, a violation of Article 6 § 1 concerning the length of proceedings, and no violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Article 6 § 1 (right of access to a court). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 19 May 2015 – Greek-Catholic Parish of Lupeni and Others v. Romania (no. 76943/11)
Mai 13, 2015 — Georg NeureitherThe applicants are the Greek-Catholic Parish of Lupeni (Romania), the Greek-Catholic Diocese of Lugoj (Romania) and the Greek-Catholic Archpriesthood of Lupeni. They belong to the Eastern-Rite Catholic (Greek-Catholic or Uniate) Church. The case concerns the restitution of religious sites belonging to the Greek-Catholic Church which were transferred to the Orthodox Church under the totalitarian regime, and more specifically the issue of implementing special legislation to determine the legal status of such property. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Schokojoghurt, Bratkartoffeln und Kopftuch oder: Von der guten und schlechten Religionsfreiheit
Mai 4, 2015 — Georg Neureither
Von Dr. Georg Neureither, Heidelberg
Juristische Begriffe irritieren das Publikum zuweilen auch deswegen, weil deren rechtlicher Sinngehalt vom allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch stark abweicht. So ist das auch mit der Erkenntnis, dass Juristen bei Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG offenbar zwischen einer guten und einer schlechten Religionsfreiheit unterscheiden – was in diesem Fall nicht nur das Publikum, sondern auch den Juristen irritierte, der sich dessen bis dato nicht bewusst war. Dazu eine erhellende Begebenheit vom Beisammensein am abendlichen Familientisch: Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: A company’s inability to challenge the Roman Catholic Church’s entry in the land register relating to property previously registered by the company violated its ownership rights
November 4, 2014 — Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Sociedad Anónima del Ucieza v. Spain (application no. 38963/08) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and held by a majority, that there had been a violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention. The case concerned a dispute over ownership of a medieval church between the applicant company, which had purchased and registered in the land register a plot of land in which the church had formed an enclave, and the Diocese of Palencia, which had registered the same church in its own name in the land register sixteen years later. The applicant company therefore considered that it had been unfairly deprived of part of its property for no reason of public interest and without any compensation. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Religion – Weltanschauung – Recht [ RWR ] 