Church of Scientology--Final Judgment of European Court of Human Rights
Defend Religious Freedom
On March 8, 2010, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of religious
associations of the Church of Scientology in Surgut and Nizhnekamsk became final.
(Vocus) March 13, 2010 -- On March 8, 2010, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case
of religious associations of the Church of Scientology in Surgut and Nizhnekamsk became final.
On October 1, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights delivered the judgment in the cases NN 76836/01 and
32782/03 in favor of the churches of Scientology of Surgut and Nizhnekamsk.
The final judgment of the European Court found a violation of rights of the applicants by the Russian Federation,
in particular, violation of the provisions of Article 9 of the Convention (freedom of thought, conscience and
religion) in the light of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association).
The court found that “the restricted status afforded to religious groups under the Religions Act did not allow
members of such a group to enjoy effectively their right to freedom of religion, rendering such a right illusory and
theoretical rather than practical and effective, as required by the Convention.
“The applications for registration as a religious organization submitted by the first and second applicants as
founders of their respective groups… were denied by reference to the insufficient period of the groups’ existence.
Finally, the restricted status of a religious group for which they qualified and in which the third applicant existed
conveyed no practical or effective benefits to them as such a group was deprived of legal personality, property
rights and the legal capacity to protect the interests of its members and was also severely hampered in the
fundamental aspects of its religious functions.
“In the instant case the Russian Government did not identify any pressing social need which the impugned
restriction served or any relevant and sufficien