Lautsi v. Italy
European Court of Human Rights
Application No. 30814/06
- Written by Mary Katherine Cunningham, JD
Facts
Between 2001 and 2002, two siblings attended a school in Abano Terme, Italy. Every classroom in the school had a crucifix affixed to the wall. In April 2002, the siblings’ father raised a question about whether the school should continue to affix crucifixes to the walls of the classroom. In May 2002, the board of governors for the school voted to keep the crucifixes in the classroom. In October 2002, the Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research adopted Directive no. 2666, which directed its staff to adopt measures to ensure the presence of crucifixes in classrooms. The parents (plaintiffs) filed an application in the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the presence of crucifixes in the classrooms. The Italian government countered that the crucifixes were a symbol of the principles and values foundational to the modern Italian state as a democracy. The Italian government argued the display of the crucifixes was appropriate as a symbol of Italian history and values, rather than as a religious symbol.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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