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www.ReligionLaw.co.uk  - International Cases

(This page provides case references and links to relevant court judgements or news reports.

See also the pages dealing with  Criminal,   and  Civil   Cases.

CONSPICUOUS RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS (FRANCE) (17 July 2009) BAILII: [2009] ECHR 1142

A compendium decision by the European Court of Human Rights merely confirming the earlier case of Dogru and Mann Singh and accepting the French Ban on the wearing of religious symbols or clothing in schools or in certain other public situations

Dogru v France - BAILII: [2008] ECHR 1579
The European Court of Human Rights rejected a claim by a French Schoolgirl that a ban on the wearing of religious symbols in school, including the Islamic Hijab, was a breach of Article 9
Mann Singh v. France - BAILII:[2008] ECHR 1523
The European Court of Human Rights rejected a claim under Article 9 brought by a French Sikh who was refused a photographic driving licence because he refused to remove his Turban for the photograph

Webb v Philadelphia Police Department (US District Court June 27 2007)
An Interesting case where an American Muslim Police Officer was refused permission to wear an Islamic Khitmar as part of her Police Uniform. She lost her case for Religious Discrimination

Leyla Sahin v. Turkey - BAILII: [2005] ECHR 819 (10 November 2005)
Leyla Sahin v. Turkey - BAILII: [2004] ECHR 299 (29 June 2004)
(A Ban preventing the wearing of an Islamic Headscarf in Istanbul University was compatible with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights )

Dahlab v. Switzerland, Application No.42393/98, (PDF Judgement)
(A Swiss primary school teacher dismissed for refusing to work without her hijab. The court decided that this dismissal was not a breach of Article 9 because it  was aimed at "protecting the rights and freedoms of others", namely young children. The hijab was a 'powerful external symbol', connected to proselytism and irreconcilable with gender equality)

Kokkinakis v. Greece - BAILII: [1993] ECHR 20
(Greek Legislation prohibiting a Jehovahs Witness from proselytising was in Breach of Article 9. NB This case is regarded as one of the leading cases on Article 9)

Refah Partisi v Turkey - BAILII: [2003] ECHR 87
Refah Partisi  v Turkey - BAILII: [2001] ECHR 495
( A European Court of Human Rights Case supporting the banning of an "Islamist" political party in Turkey. In para 123 of the 2003 decision the Court agreed with the following statement, in para 72 of the 2001 decision, regarding Sharia Law and Democracy "It is difficult to declare one’s respect for democracy and human rights while at the same time supporting a regime based on Sharia, which clearly diverges from Convention values")
 

Church of the New Faith v Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax - AustLII: [1983] HCA 40

Is an Australian decision which has been quoted in British judgements and is regarded as a leading case involving a lengthy discussion as to what exactly is a "Religion" in law.

The Islamic Council of Victoria v Catch the Fire Ministries [2004] VCAT 2510
(Remedy Decision) [2005] VCAT 1159 (22 June 2005)
(A controversial Australian case under the Religious Vilification law of Victoria. An Evangelical Christian Church was sued by the Islamic Council for a seminar it organised which was held to have vilified Islam. The Church was ordered to publish an apology and if it refused then the Pastors could have been sent to Jail)
Catch the Fire Ministries Inc & Ors v Islamic Council of Victoria Inc [2006] VSCA 284 (14 December 2006) A decision by the Victoria Supreme Court overturning the earlier Tribunal judgement and directing that the case be retried (The case has since been dropped by the ICV)
 

American Atheists Inc v Utah Highway Patrol Association (US District Court November 20 2007)

An attempt to have memorial crosses declared "unconstitutional" because they represented a Christian Symbol, the court held that the cross was not an exclusively religious symbol and it depended on the circumstances in which it was used. (An interesting sideline mentioned in the judgement was the fact that in Utah the majority Christian faith is Mormonism and the Mormon Church does not use the Cross as part of its religious symbols or worship.)
 

Van Orden v. Perry USSC June 27, 2005
McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union USSC June 27, 2005
(Two confusing United States Supreme Court decisions on displays of the Ten Commandments. In the Texas case of Van Orden the Court supported a Ten Commandments monument that has been on the state capitol grounds for about forty years but in the Kentucky case of McCreary, the Court upheld a ban on a display of the Ten Commandments.)
 
Simpson v. Chesterfield County
(A case where the US Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit held that a County could refuse to allow a Witch (Wiccan) to conduct prayers before the Council meeting)

Reynolds v. U.S., 98 U.S. 145 (1878)
(An historically interesting case where the US Supreme Court held that the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution did not protect Mormons who wished to practice Polygamy in accordance with their religion)

Wingrove v UK - BAILII:[1996] ECHR 60
( English Blasphemy law was compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights )