Freedom of Religion: Lifting the Veils of Power and Prejudice

Abstract

This paper brings together case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, for purposes of assessing the extent to which pluralism underpins decisions involving religious manifestation in the form of the Christian cross, on the one hand, and the Islamic veil on the other. The discussion of the jurisprudence reflects that the two Courts have not set adequate benchmarks of protection for religious minorities and have not conceptualised themselves as key players to fight the growing Islamoprejudice marking a plethora of European realms. Instead, they have either reiterated negative narratives or hidden behind the acceptable shield of neutrality.