Slovak News Back to the news
Parliament: ECHR Decision Goes Against Europe's Cultural Heritage
Thursday 10 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 10 (TASR) - The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the placing of Christian crosses in Italian schools is in contrast with Europe's cultural heritage and its Christian history, according to a declaration approved by the Slovak Parliament on Thursday.
Parliament published the declaration concerning the placing of religious symbols in schools and public institutions stating that this is in line with the historical traditions of the country.
"Respecting this tradition cannot be perceived as a restriction on the freedom of religion," reads the declaration, according to which the placing of religious symbols falls under the authority of individual EU countries.
ECHR in its recent decision said that the placing of crosses in Italian schools violates the rights of parents to bring up their children in harmony with their own convictions. "It's a decision that is in contrast with Italy's cultural tradition. Freedom of religion is anchored in the Agreement on Human Rights and Freedoms from 1950," stated the MPs who submitted the declaration.
They added that the Agreement never aimed to push religion out of public life, and therefore the ECHR's decision doesn't observe the contents of the Agreement in an appropriate manner.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
