The case Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia (applications nos. 8019/16, 43800/14, 28525/20 and 11055/22) concerned the conflict that began in eastern Ukraine in 2014 following the arrival in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of pro-Russian armed groups, and escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine beginning on 24 February 2022… Ukraine alleged repeated violations of human rights by Russia… Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: The Court holds Russia accountable for widespread and flagrant abuses of human rights arising from the conflict in Ukraine since 2014, in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights
9. Juli 2025 — Dr. Georg NeureitherECHR: Lindholm and the Estate after Leif Lindholm v. Denmark (application no. 25636/22)
5. November 2024 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants are Lilian Elisabeth Lindholm, born in 1953 and currently living in Randers (Denmark), and the estate of her late husband, Leif Ingolf Lindholm, born in 1947. They are/were both Jehovah’s Witnesses. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: Hamzayan v. Armenia (application no. 43082/14)
6. Februar 2024 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant, Marina Hamzayan, is an Armenian national who was born in 1980 and lives in Yerevan. The case concerns an administrative penalty that the applicant, a Jehovah’s Witness, was given by the authorities of the unrecognised “Nagorno Karabakh Republic”, for having a religious conversation with somebody, not a Jehovah’s Witness, in that person’s home. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Bundestag: Mahnmal für die verfolgten Zeugen Jehovas in Berlin
24. Mai 2023 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDer Kulturausschuss spricht sich für die Errichtung eines Mahnmals für die während der nationalsozialistischen Diktatur verfolgten Zeugen Jehovas im Berliner Tiergarten aus. Das Gremium billigte ohne Gegenstimmen einen entsprechenden Antrag der Fraktionen der SPD, CDU/CSU, von Bündnis 90/Die Grünen und der FDP (BT-Dr 20/6710). Lediglich die AfD-Fraktion enthielt sich der Stimme. Die Zeugen Jehovas hätten aus ihrem Glauben heraus geschlossen Widerstand gegen den Nationalsozialismus geleistet und seien eine der ersten im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland verfolgten Gruppen gewesen, heißt es in dem Antrag. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Bundestag: Mahnmal für Zeugen Jehovas nach Expertenanhörung „ist überfällig“
22. Mai 2023 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDie Historiker Wolfgang Benz, Detlef Garbe, Tim Müller und Uwe Neumärker halten die geplante Errichtung eines Mahnmals für die im Nationalsozialismus verfolgten Zeugen Jehovas für „überfällig“. Dies betonten die vier Wissenschaftler als Sachverständige in einer öffentlichen Anhörung des Kulturausschusses zu dem von den Fraktionen von SPD, CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen und FDP gemeinsam vorgelegten Antrag (BT-Dr 20/6710) für ein solches Mahnmal im Berliner Tiergarten. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
Bundestag: Mahnmal für die verfolgten Zeugen Jehovas
10. Mai 2023 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDie Fraktionen der SPD, CDU/CSU, von Bündnis 90/Die Grünen und der FDP sprechen sich für die Errichtung eines Mahnmals für die während der nationalsozialistischen Diktatur verfolgten Zeugen Jehovas aus. Die Mitglieder der Religionsgemeinschaft hätten aus ihrem Glauben heraus geschlossen Widerstand gegen den Nationalsozialismus geleistet und seien eine der ersten im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland verfolgten Gruppen gewesen, heißt es in dem gemeinsamen Antrag (BT-Dr 20/6710). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: Obtaining consent for Jehovah’s Witnesses’ collecting of personal data necessary to protect rights of others
9. Mai 2023 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses v. Finland (application no. 31172/19) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been no violation of Article 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights, and no violation of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion). The case concerns the obligation for individual Jehovah’s Witnesses to obtain consent when collecting personal data during their door-to-door preaching. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: The Court finds several Convention violations on account of manifest deficiencies in the follow-up by the authorities of a child placed in foster care
3. November 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Loste v. France (application no. 59227/12) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) taken in conjunction with Articles 3 and 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, a violation of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), and a violation of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion). Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: Multiple violations in case brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
7. Juni 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe case Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia (application nos. 32401/10 and 19 others) concerned various actions taken by the State against Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organisations in Russia over a ten-year span, including a requirement to re-register, amendments to anti-extremist legislation leading to the banning of their religious literature and international website and the revocation of their permit to distribute religious magazines, and eventually to a nation-wide ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organisations in Russia, the criminal prosecution of hundreds of individual Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the confiscation of their property. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: Jehovah’s Witness should have had a clear alternative to military service in Lithuania
7. Juni 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Teliatnikov v. Lithuania (application no. 51914/19) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned Mr Teliatnikov’s request for an exemption from military service and application for civilian service owing to his religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness minister. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
ECHR: No breach of Jehovah’s Witness’ rights in case concerning dispute over his daughter’s religious upbringing
19. Mai 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of T.C. v. Italy (application no. 54032/18) the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been no violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights in conjunction with Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the Convention, read in the light of Article 9 (freedom of religion). The case concerned a dispute between the applicant and the mother of his daughter from a previous relationship over their child’s religious upbringing. The applicant had become a Jehovah’s Witness after the split in the relationship. Following proceedings brought by the mother in the courts, the applicant was ordered to refrain from actively involving his daughter in his religion. 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
5. April 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn 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 »
BayVGH: Zeugen Jehovas unterliegen in der Russischen Föderation der Verfolgung
28. Februar 2022 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDer BayVGH hat die Bundesrepublik Deutschland mit jetzt bekannt gewordenem Urteil vom 09.11.2021 dazu verpflichtet, zwei russische Staatsangehörige wegen ihrer Religionsausübung als Zeugen Jehovas als Asylberechtigte anzuerkennen. Der BayVGH hatte sich dabei als erstes Oberverwaltungsgericht in Deutschland mit der Frage der Verfolgung von Zeugen Jehovas in der Russischen Föderation zu befassen. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: The Religious Denomination of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bulgaria v. Bulgaria (no. 5301/11)
10. November 2020 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe case concerned a complaint by a Bulgarian organisation, The Religious Denomination of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bulgaria, that the authorities had prevented it from constructing a house of worship on land it owns. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EuGH: Auf der Religion beruhende mittelbare Ungleichbehandlung durch die Weigerung des Versicherungsmitgliedstaats eines Patienten, eine Vorabgenehmigung für die Erstattung von Kosten grenzüberschreitender Gesundheitsdienstleistungen zu erteilen, wenn in diesem Staat eine wirksame Krankenhausbehandlung verfügbar ist, der Versicherte die angewandte Behandlungsmethode (u.a. mittels Bluttransfusion) aber auf Grund seiner religiösen Überzeugungen ablehnt – Zeugen Jehovas
29. Oktober 2020 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDiese Weigerung verstößt allerdings nicht gegen das Unionsrecht, wenn sie objektiv durch das legitime Ziel gerechtfertigt ist, einen bestimmten Umfang der medizinischen und pflegerischen Versorgung oder ein bestimmtes Niveau der Heilkunde zu erhalten, und ein geeignetes und erforderliches Mittel darstellt, mit dem dieses Ziel erreicht werden kann. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Lack of civilian service as an alternative to military service precluded recognition of conscientious objection, in breach of the Convention
17. Oktober 2019 — Dr. Georg NeureitherIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Mushfig Mammadov and Others v. Azerbaijan (application no. 14604/08) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 9 (right to freedom of conscience, thought and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned the applicants’ refusal on religious grounds to serve in the army. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgement on Thursday 17 October 2019 – Mushfig Mammadov and Others v. Azerbaijan (nos. 14604/08, 45823/11, 76127/13, and 41792/15)
10. Oktober 2019 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicants, Mushfig Faig oglu Mammadov, Samir Asif oglu Huseynov, Farid Hasan oglu Mammadov, Fakhraddin Jeyhun oglu Mirzayev and Kamran Ziyafaddin oglu Mirzayev, are five Azerbaijani nationals who were born in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993 and 1994 respectively and live in Baku and Ganja (in the case of Mr Fakhraddin Jeyhun oglu Mirzayev) (Azerbaijan). All five state that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Religious Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Kryvyi Rih’s Ternivsky District v. Ukraine (no. 21477/10)
3. September 2019 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant community is the Religious Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Kryvyi Rih, Ternivsky District, Dnipropetrovsk Region. The case concerned the community’s complaint that it had not been able to construct a building for worship on land it had purchased owing to the domestic authorities’ inactivity. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Tuesday 3 September 2019 – Religious Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Kryvyi Rih’s Ternivsky District v. Ukraine (no. 21477/10)
29. August 2019 — Dr. Georg NeureitherThe applicant community is the Religious Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Kryvyi Rih, Ternivsky District, Dnipropetrovsk Region. The case concerns the community’s complaint that it was not able to construct a building for worship on land it had purchased owing to the domestic authorities’ inactivity. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EuGH: Eine Religionsgemeinschaft wie die der Zeugen Jehovas, ist gemeinsam mit ihren als Verkündiger tätigen Mitgliedern für die Verarbeitung der personenbezogenen Daten verantwortlich, die im Rahmen einer von Tür zu Tür durchgeführten Verkündigungstätigkeit erhoben werden
10. Juli 2018 — Dr. Georg NeureitherDie im Rahmen einer solchen Tätigkeit erfolgenden Verarbeitungen personenbezogener Daten müssen mit den unionsrechtlichen Vorschriften über den Schutz personenbezogener Daten im Einklang stehen. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen »
EGMR: Shortcomings in Armenian alternative to military service for conscientious objectors before 2013
12. Oktober 2017 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe case Adyan and Others v. Armenia (application no. 75604/11) concerned four Jehovah’s Witnesses who were convicted in 2011 for refusing to perform either military or alternative civilian service because of their religious beliefs. Before both the local authorities and the courts, they argued that, even though domestic law did provide for an alternative to military service, it was not of a genuinely civilian nature, as it was supervised by the military authorities. They were released from prison in 2013 following a general amnesty. They served more than two years of their prison sentence. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
Nordrhein-Westfalen: Verordnung zur Verleihung der Rechte einer Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts an die Religionsgemeinschaft Jehovas Zeugen in Deutschland
26. Januar 2017 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenDer Religionsgemeinschaft Jehovas Zeugen in Deutschland, K.d.ö.R. mit Sitz in Berlin werden im Anschluss an die Verleihung der Körperschaftsrechte durch das Land Berlin für das Gebiet des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen im Wege der Zweitverleihung die Rechte einer Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts verliehen. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Tsartsidze and Others v. Georgia (no. 18766/04)
17. Januar 2017 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe applicants are 13 Georgian nationals who are all Jehovah’s Witnesses. The case concerned alleged harassment of Jehovah’s witnesses in Georgia. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Greek conscientious objector did not enjoy the necessary procedural safeguards in having his request for alternative civilian service examined
15. September 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenIn today’s Chamber judgment in the case of Papavasilakis v. Greece (application no. 66899/14) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been: a violation of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case concerned the authorities’ refusal to grant Mr Papavasilakis the status of conscientious objector and to allow him to do alternative civilian work instead of military service. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
EGMR: Forthcoming judgment on Thursday 15 September 2016 – Papavasilakis v. Greece (no. 66899/14)
9. September 2016 — Ass. iur. Klaus KohnenThe applicant, Leonidas Papavasilakis, is a Greek national who was born in 1988 and lives in Ikaria (Greece). The case concerns the authorities’ refusal to grant Mr Papavasilakis conscientious objector status and to allow him to carry out alternative civilian work instead of his military service. Den Rest des Beitrags lesen
Religion – Weltanschauung – Recht [ RWR ] 