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Protecting the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion �1�0�0 Under the European Convention �9�5 Jim Murdoch Protecting the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion 100 under the European Convention 95 on Human Rights 75 25 5 Council of Europe human rights handbooks 0 hb9.book Page 1 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM Jim Murdoch Protecting the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights Council of Europe human rights handbooks Council of Europe Strasbourg, 2012 hb9.book Page 2 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM Jim Murdoch is Professor of Public Law at the University of The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the Glasgow, and was formerly Head of the School of Law. His author and do not engage the responsibility of the Council of research interests are in domestic and European human rights Europe. They should not be regarded as placing upon the law. He is a regular participant in Council of Europe seminar legal instruments mentioned in it any official interpretation programme visits to central and east European states and has capable of binding the governments of member states, the developed a particular interest in non-judicial human rights Council of Europe’s statutory organs or any organ set up by enforcement mechanisms. virtue of the European Convention on Human Rights. Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law Council of Europe F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex www.coe.int/justice © Council of Europe, 2012 Cover illustration © rolffimages – Fotolia.com 1st printing, February 2012 Printed at the Council of Europe hb9.book Page 3 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM Contents Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights . 5 Question 3. Does the limitation on manifestation of religion or belief have a legitimate aim? . 35 Preface . 6 Question 4. Is the limitation on “manifestation” of Freedom of thought, conscience and religion: religion or belief “prescribed by law”?. 37 international and regional standards . 9 Question 5. Is the limitation on “manifestation” of religion or belief “necessary in a democratic society”?. 39 Interpreting Article 9 of the Convention: general Necessity and proportionality; and the nature of considerations . 12 “democratic society” . 40 Introduction . 12 Margin of appreciation . 41 Applying Article 9: the checklist of key questions . 13 Specific aspects of freedom of thought, conscience and Question 1: Does the complaint fall within the scope of belief arising under Article 9 . 44 Article 9?. 14 Interferences with “manifestation” of individual belief: What is meant by “thought, conscience and religion”? . 16 refusal to undertake compulsory military service . 44 The forum internum . 18 Interferences with “manifestation” of individual belief: Manifestations of religion or belief . 21 proselytism . 46 The collective aspect of Article 9 . 23 The collective aspect of Article 9 and recognition of Interferences with “manifestation” of individual belief: “victim” status . 24 sanctions for wearing of religious symbols . 49 Limits to the scope of Article 9 . 26 Interferences with individual belief: the requirement to pay Question 2: Has there been any interference with “church tax” . 52 Article 9 rights? . 26 Individual “manifestation” of belief: prisoners and religious Positive obligations . 28 Employment and freedom of thought, conscience and belief . 54 religion . 30 The requirement of state neutrality: registration of religious Permitting due recognition of religious practices . 33 faiths, etc. 55 3 hb9.book Page 4 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM COUNCIL OF EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS HANDBOOKS The requirement of state neutrality: controls upon places Medical treatment issues: Article 8 . 73 of worship . 60 State recognition of decisions of ecclesiastical bodies: The requirement of state neutrality: interfering in internal Article 6 . 74 disputes between adherents of a religious community . 62 Discrimination on the basis of religion or belief . 74 Related guarantees under the Convention having an Article 14 . 75 impact upon the free exercise of conscience or belief . 66 Religious convictions and education: Article 2 of Protocol No. 12. 80 Protocol No. 1 . 66 Conclusion . 82 Freedom of expression and thought, conscience and belief: Article 10 . 69 Index of cases . 86 4 hb9.book Page 5 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights Freedom of thought, conscience and religion 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience 2. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or in worship, teaching, practice and observance. for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. 5 hb9.book Page 6 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM Preface This handbook examines the scope and content of freedom of can it extend to discussion of the question as to what weight thought, conscience and religion as guaranteed in particular by domestic law requires to be given to the Convention. Whether Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and as the European Convention on Human Rights is considered as interpreted by the case-law of the European Court of Human superior law or merely has persuasive force in domestic law is Rights (“the Strasbourg Court”) and by the former European clearly of importance, but whether or not the treaty overrides Commission on Human Rights (“the Commission”). 1 national law, it is still possible to state with some certainty the key considerations a domestic judge or public official must bear The primary responsibility for applying Convention guarantees in mind in relevant cases in decision-making at national level. lies at the national level. The aim is thus to provide a concise guide to assist judges, relevant state officials and practising Article 9 jurisprudence may not be particularly voluminous in lawyers who need an understanding of European Convention contrast to the case-law generated by other provisions of the on Human Rights case-law in applying the treaty in domestic Convention, but the case-law in this area it is often of some 2 law and administrative practice. The standards and expecta- complexity. Much is of comparatively recent origin, and while tions found in the European Convention on Human Rights may certain aspects of freedom of thought, conscience and belief apply across Europe, but the subsidiary nature of the scheme of remain to be considered by the Court as it has not yet had the protection categorically requires the domestic decision-maker opportunity to provide an authoritative interpretation for all – and above all, the domestic judge – to give effect to these aspects of the subject, a number of important decisions and rights in national law and practice. This work, of course, can judgments help clarify the application, nature and importance only be an introductory text and not a definitive treatise. Nor 2. Violations of Article 9 have been found in 35 judgments between 1959 and 2010 (9 have concerned Greece, 5 Russia, 4 Bulgaria, 3 in respect of Latvia, Moldova 1. In the interests of readability, the text generally refers only to the title of cases, Turkey, and Ukraine, and 1 in respect of Austria, Georgia, Poland, San Marino, with full references of judgments cited appearing in the index of cases, page 86. and Switzerland): European Court Annual Report 2010 (2011), pp 157-158. The All the Court’s judgments, and a significant selection of decisions and reports, first such judgment establishing a violation of Article 9 – Kokkinakis v. Greece , are published in the HUDOC database, accessible at http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/. discussed below at p. 36 ff – was delivered in 1993. 6 Preface hb9.book Page 7 Monday, January 23, 2012 3:48 PM PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION of the guarantee. The provision confers protection for an indi- put it, a “moderated doctrine of precedent” is employed by the vidual’s core belief system and for the right to manifest such European Court of Human Rights (“the Strasbourg Court”) to beliefs either individually or with others, and both in private as give guidance to national courts and decision-makers on the well as in the public sphere. The case-law clarifies that state development of human rights protection. 3 This “doctrine of authorities may not only be required to desist from taking precedent” is necessary in the interests of legal certainty and action which would interfere with thought, conscience and reli- equality before the law. Yet it is “moderated” by the need to gion, but also in certain circumstances to take positive meas- ensure that the Convention continues to reflect changes in ures to nurture and to protect this freedom. The range of issues society’s aspirations and values. The Convention is thus a that may arise under Article 9 is wide: for example, should the “living instrument”. 4 Examination of the case-law also allows an display of religious symbols be prohibited in state premises? appreciation of the fundamental values which underpin this when may the criminal law prohibit attempts at proselytism? is jurisprudence. These underlying assumptions are often dis- there a responsibility to recognise exemptions to the duty to cernible from the Strasbourg Court’s decisions and judgments undertake military service? can oaths of allegiance be required as the opportunity has been taken to elaborate the principles of public officials or democratically-elected representatives? or which should be followed by domestic courts and policy- is it permissible to prohibit the building of minarets, or the makers. There is thus an important predictive aspect to the wearing of headscarves? Such questions can – and do – arise Strasbourg Court’s case-law, for while in particular instances on a not infrequent basis in political debate.
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