Council of Europe Rebukes Swiss Minaret Ban

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called for a moratorium on the Swiss minaret ban during a debate on Islam, Islamism, and Islamophobia in Europe. The recommendation was passed with the unanimous support of the entire assembly, including that of all the Swiss representatives, even André Bugnon, who had earlier supported the…

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Manual on Hate Speech

The right to freedom of expression entails duties and responsibilities and is subject to certain limits, provided for in Article 10.2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which are concerned, among other things, with protecting the rights of others. Identifying what constitutes “hate speech” is especially difficult because this type of speech does not…

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Manual on the wearing of religious symbols in public areas

To address the issues surrounding the wearing of religious symbols in public areas, this manual explores how the European Convention on Human Rights relates to the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; identifies key concepts found in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights; and examines the role and responsibilities of both states…

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The European Court of Human Rights rejects complaints against France

The European Court of Human Rights has thrown out the human rights complaints of French parents who deemed it wrong their children were excluded from public schools because of their conspicuous religious signs (i.e. their hijabs and turbans). Instead, the European Court claimed that that it supported the law for it seeks to protect children…

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Belgian court upholds school’s decision to ban headscarves

The Council of State, Belgium’s top administrative court, ruled that schools may ban girls from wearing the Muslim headscarf or hijab. The court argued that a ban on the garment is not discriminatory, but rather, reinforced principals of equality and solidarity. While the ruling does not argue for a mandatory ban, it gives Belgian schools…

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