The European Court of Human Rights is examining a case brought by Greek atheists against their very own government, in regards to the public display of non secular symbols and artwork.
The controversy began when a pair of atheists asked that Christian symbols within the courtroom be removed during hearings that centre on religious issues and questions.
They claimed that the presence of such symbols was discriminatory, compromised the objectivity of the court, and violated their right to a good trial, in addition to their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Their request was denied by the Greek court.
Now the matter has been escalated to the European Court of Human Rights, regardless of the court decides could well impact the display of non secular symbols in 46 countries that are a part of the Council of Europe.
Legal advocacy group ADF International has intervened within the case, arguing that religious symbols are sometimes also symbols of national heritage and do nothing to threaten or compromise an individual’s human rights.
Adina Portaru, senior counsel at ADF International, said, “The display of non secular symbols in public spaces is under no circumstances incompatible with human rights law. Public spaces mustn’t be stripped of crosses, icons or other symbols with religious, cultural, and historical significance within the name of pluralism.
“The Court has repeatedly affirmed that religious symbols, particularly those forming a rustic’s heritage, don’t violate freedom of faith or the precise to a good trial.”
In a legal transient, ADF also argued that attempting to remove religious symbols under the guise of “state neutrality” could constitute a hostile act towards the Christian religion and completely fail to recognise the Christian heritage of European nations.
ADF previously intervened in an Italian case during which the display of crucifixes in schools was challenged. In that case the European Court of Human Rights ruled that a crucifix doesn’t constitute indoctrination and doesn’t impact on the rights of freedom of thought, conscience or religion of Italian school children.
Portaru gave the impression to be optimistic that the court would make an analogous ruling within the Greek case.
“The European Convention on Human Rights robustly protects freedom of faith. Culturally rooted religious symbols or artwork, reminiscent of centuries-old Orthodox Christian icons, don’t impose a belief on anyone nor direct judicial decision-making,” she said.
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