Hellenic Observatory Seminar Series, LSE

Transcription

1 Hellenic Observatory Seminar Series, LSE Religious Pluralism and Education in Greece: The radiating effects of the European Court of Human Rights in a context of prevailing religion and increasing religious pluralism Margarita Markoviti

2 Radiating effects of ECtHR on: 1 The content and objectives of religious education 2 Exemption from the class of religion 3 The presence of religious symbols in the school

3 Constitution of Greece (1975) Article 3 The prevailing religion in Greece is that of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ Article 16 Education constitutes a basic mission for the State and shall aim at the moral, intellectual, professional and physical training of Greek citizens, the development of their national and religious conscience and at the formation as free and responsible citizens

4 Law 1566/1985 on Orthodox Christian Instruction [ ]to develop into free, responsible, democratic citizens in whom is instilled a faith in their motherland and in the authentic elements of Christian Orthodox tradition

5 Religious Education Textbook, 3 rd Grade Primary School

6 The Content and objectives of Religious Education

7 Theologian University of Thessaloniki As the Constitution asserts, one of the objectives of education is the development of religious consciousness of students, which means that we should teach [students] about their own faith. The way things are now, students are being taught about religions in a descriptive, informative and neutral manner. To do otherwise, means to proselytize, it means lack of respect of the Constitution and of the ECtHR, since you re not respecting someone else s religion! What this new program does is to brainwash 8-year-old children. They are asking us to punish our children by forcing them to learn about 9 different religions. This is definitely lack of respect of one s freedom to education.

8 Archbishop of Greece, May 2015 It seems that in this case as well, our European friends took advantage of our dire economic situation and, within the wider context of regulations of our financial agreements, they seek to distort Greek society in any possible way, starting with our school education.

9 Government Circular on Exemption from the Class of Religious Education (23 January, 2015) As on some occasions over the last years, an exploitation of the right to exemption related to freedom of religious conscience has been observed, school directors are asked to inspect the validity of the reasons presented [ ]. The Formal Declaration should state that the student is not Christian Orthodox and has, thus, the right to claim reasons of religious conscience, without the obligatory reference to his religion, unless he so wishes [ ].

10 Atheist Union of Greece

11 Religious symbols/icons in schools

12 Theologian School Advisor What do these international human rights Courts say? That each country is free to do as it wishes [ ]. Yes, this case was about the religious icons [sic] in Italy by the mother of a student who wasn t even Italian, herself! But the second decision by the Court stated that this practice (of religious icons) is tradition, a part of history that has influenced everything.

13 Theologian Lautsi in Greece The Court could not have reached the same verdict in Greece. The entire class of RE would have to be abolished! At some point things will change in perhaps five or ten years from now. Greek society has changed, it has been forced to change, but religions are trapped in their own mindset and they pull the State towards their direction, since politicians are afraid of the political cost of their actions.

14 Conclusions ECtHR s influence limited due to: 1 Particular understanding of the doctrine of the margin of appreciation 2 Strategic references to and varying interpretations of Court s judgments 3 Embedded culture of constitutionality