On November 3, 2009, The European Court of Human Rights (EHCR) ruled that displaying a crucifix in a public school classroom violated the European Convention on Human Rights^PDF. The lawsuit was brought against Italy by Soile Lautsi, who claimed that displaying a crucifix "infringed the constitutional principles of secularism and of impartiality on the part of the public authorities." Both Italian and Catholic leaders criticized the ruling.

Learn more about the European Court of Human Rights from the JURIST news archive.

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