Manoussakis and Others v. Greece
European Court of Human Rights
23 Eur. H.R. Rep. 387, 407 (1997)
- Written by Jamie Milne, JD
Facts
Titos Manoussakis and others (plaintiffs), Jehovah’s Witnesses living in Crete, rented a room to use for religious gatherings. As required by Greek law, they applied to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (ministry) for authorization to use the room as a place of worship. Over the next few years, the ministry claimed that it was unable to decide the application because it lacked necessary information from other departments. While the application remained pending, Manoussakis and the others were charged with violating the law by establishing and operating a place of worship without authorization. Initially, the Greek criminal court acquitted. On appeal, a panel of the court found Manoussakis and the others liable and imposed a fine and brief imprisonment. After the court of cassation, the country’s highest court, dismissed their appeal, Manoussakis and the others asserted a claim against Greece (defendant) in the European Court of Human Rights. They argued, among other things, that their convictions for violating the authorization law violated their freedom of religion under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Bernhardt, J.)
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