Challenges Related to the Increase of Religious Diversity in the Light of the Judicial Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights
Abstract
European states responded in different ways to tensions related to the increase in religious diversity, and the restrictions introduced were considered appropriate when they resulted from public security and the need to protect others, especially if the state presented a credible justification. On this occasion, the case-law of the ECHR developed two key concepts for the determination of the presence of religious symbols in public places: a powerful external symbol and an essentially passive symbol. An important achievement of the Tribunal is also the introduction of the concept of “improper proselytism.” Certainly, a further increase in religious diversity in Europe may lead to new areas of controversy, which will then be assessed by the ECHR. However, the existing instruments used by the Court, such as the idea of the Convention as a living document, the theory of the margin of appreciation or the analysis of the existence of the European consensus, enable it to develop its interpretation in this regard.
References
Bibliography
ECHR judgments and decisions
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Aktas v. France, No. 43563/08, decision on the admissibility of the complaint of 30.06.2009.
Al-Nashif v. Bulgaria, no. 50963/99, ECHR judgment of 20.6.2002.
Arrowsmith v. The United Kingdom, No. 7050/75, Commission report of 12.10.1978.
Bayrak v. France, No. 14308/08, decision on the admissibility of the complaint of 30.06.2009.
Belcacemi and Oussar v. Belgium, No. 37798/13, ECHR judgment of 11.07.2017.
C. v. The United Kingdom, no. 10358/83, Commission decision of 15.12.1983.
Casado Coca v. Spain, No. 15450/89, ECHR judgment of 24.02.1994.
Chassagnou and Others v. France [GC], No. 25088/94, 28331/95 and 28443/95, ECHR judgment of 29.04.1999.
Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia, No. 18147/02, ECHR judgment of 5.04.2007.
Dakir v. Belgium, No. 4619/12, ECHR judgment of 11.07.2017.
Dogru v. France, No. 27058/05, judgment of the ECHR of 4.12.2008.
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Öz v. Germany, no 32168/96, ECHR decision of 3.12.1996.
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