Islam and Christianity before the ECtHR - HDPV0115

• Anglický název: Islam and Christianity before the ECtHR
• Podoba výuky: seminář
• Zajišťuje: Katedra jazyků (22-KJ)
• Fakulta: Právnická fakulta
• Platnost: od 2025
• Počet semestrů výuky: 1
• Semestr: letní
• Body: 0
• E-Kredity: 4
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: letní s.:písemná
• Rozsah, examinace: letní s.:0/2, Zk [HT]
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Forma uskutečňování: prezenční
• Úroveň: základní
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu
• Garant: Sean Davidson, J.D.
• Vyučující: Sean Davidson, J.D.
• Neslučitelnost : HP0681
• Ve slož. prerekvizitě: HMOD0023

Anotace

čeština

The course focuses on the analysis of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in cases concerning the limits of freedom of religion and free expression of Christians and Muslims. The right of free exercise of religion by Christians and Muslims has been a focus of the decision-making practice of the higher courts in recent decades, with new cases decided every year.
The cases discussed arise in a variety of contexts (schools, workplaces, public life). Students are encouraged to critically analyze the arguments of the ECtHR, including assessing tools such as margin of appreciation and proportionality. Students will also compare the decisions of the ECtHR with decisions of the American high courts in order to better understand the different legal approaches to the issue. The course is interactive and uses Moot Court exercises to practice applying the law to fresh cases and hypothetical scenarios. The course includes an assessed Moot Court exercise, during which students play the role of either lawyers or judges and during which a presented case is discussed.

Poslední úprava: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (14.09.2026)

Kontroly studia předmětu a podmínky pro jejich úspěšné vykonání, způsob hodnocení

čeština

1.       The examination consists of writing an essay on an assigned topic and taking part in a moot court in the seminar.

2.       Students are also required to attend at least 70% of classes in order to successfully complete the course.

3.       Given the nature of the examination, students are not permitted to use legislation or other sources.

4.       To successfully complete the course, students must obtain at least 55/100 points in the overall assessment, with grades awarded as follows:

Erasmus students (A–E):
A: 91–100
B: 82–90
C: 73–81
D: 64–72
E: 55–63

Master’s degree students (1–3):
1: 89–100
2: 75–88
3: 55–74

Poslední úprava: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (14.09.2026)

Sylabus

čeština

The course covers the following topics:

Week 1: Introduction

- European Court of Human Rights

- Margin of Appreciation

- Balance between freedom of expression and religion

Week 2: Balance between freedom of expression and respect for individual religions

- E.S. v. Austria (calling Muhammad a pedophile)

-Rabczewska v. Poland (insulting Jesus)

- Sekmadienis Ltd. v. Lithuania (religious symbols in advertising)

- Otto Preminger Institut v. Austria (offensive film)

Week 3: Wearing religious symbols in public places

- S.A.S. v. France (French ban on face coverings)

Week 4: Teachers wearing religious symbols in schools

- Dahlab v. Switzerland (teacher wearing headscarves in primary school)

- Kurtulumus v. Turkey (university lecturer wearing headscarf)

- German Constitutional Court case BvR 471/10 (ban on headscarves for female teachers in state primary schools)

Week 5: Informal Moot Court activity

Week 6: Students wearing headscarves in schools

- Leyla Sahin v. Turkey (wearing headscarves at university)

- Aktas v. France (religious symbols in primary and secondary schools)

- R v. Denbigh (wearing uniforms in secondary schools) – a UK perspective

Week 7: Parents’ rights in schools, including exemptions

- Lautsi v. Italy (cross in the classroom)

- Folgero and Others v. Norway (exemption from religion lessons)

- Osmanoglu and Kocabas v. Switzerland (exemption from swimming lessons in a mixed class)

Week 8: Graded Moot Court activity

Week 9: Vavricka v. Czech Republic (mandatory vaccination)

Week 10: Religion in the workplace

- Eweida and Others v. UK (wearing religious symbols)

- Ebrahimian v. France (wearing a headscarf in a hospital)

Poslední úprava: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (14.09.2026)

Studijní opory

čeština

Required literature:

1.      Why Tolerate Religion? Brian Leiter, Princeton University Press (2012) 

2.      A Secular Europe:  Law and Religion in the European Constitutional Landscape, Lorenzo Zucca, Oxford University Press (2012) 

3.      Is it Fair to Give Religion Special Treatment?  Andrew Koppelman, Illinois Law Review (2006) 

Poslední úprava: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (14.09.2026)

Výsledky učení

čeština

By completing this course, students will acquire the following knowledge and competencies:

1. Analyze the margin of appreciation doctrine in European human rights law using jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in written legal analysis
2. Explain the role of European cultural context in shaping legal approaches to freedom of religion and expression using comparative legal perspectives in class discussions and essays
3. Apply insights from psychological theories such as terror management theory to legal debates on religion and expression using interdisciplinary analysis in written assignments
4. Evaluate the balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs using European Court of Human Rights case law in structured legal arguments
5. Analyze legal reasoning in cases involving offensive speech about religion using proportionality and human rights frameworks in case briefs
6. Compare judicial approaches to religious offence across different jurisdictions using case law such as Rabczewska v. Poland and E.S. v. Austria in comparative analysis
7. Assess the regulation of religious symbols in commercial contexts using human rights standards in case analysis
8. Evaluate legal restrictions on wearing religious symbols in public spaces using proportionality analysis in written or oral argumentation
9. Apply European human rights principles to cases involving public safety and religion using relevant case law in problem-solving exercises
10. Analyze legal frameworks governing teachers wearing religious symbols in educational settings using constitutional and human rights standards in doctrinal analysis
11. Compare national approaches to religious neutrality in schools using case law from multiple jurisdictions in comparative legal analysis
12. Demonstrate advocacy skills in human rights disputes involving religion and education using moot court procedures and legal reasoning standards in simulated hearings
13. Construct persuasive legal arguments on conflicts between parental rights and state interests in education using European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence in written and oral advocacy
14. Evaluate legal principles governing religious symbols in classrooms using proportionality and neutrality standards in case analysis
15. Assess competing rights of parents and children in education using human rights frameworks in structured legal argumentation
16. Analyze additional case law on children’s rights and public health measures using European legal standards in written assignments
17. Evaluate legal and ethical issues in cases involving medical treatment refusals and religious practices using human rights and best interest standards in discussions and essays
18. Assess legal regulation of ritual practices such as ritual slaughter using European human rights law in case-based analysis
19. Analyze legal frameworks governing religion in the workplace using European Court of Human Rights case law in doctrinal analysis
20. Evaluate requirements related to religion and citizenship using human rights principles and comparative legal approaches in written or oral assessment

Poslední úprava: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (14.09.2026)