Case law

In 1976, the EU Court of Justice issued a decision directly relating to freedom of religion (ECJ, 27 October 1976, case 130-75, Vivien Prais). Furthermore, the Court has on rare occasions considered cases involving denominational activities, personnel or organisations, always linking them to the areas of application of the treaties (freedom of movement, freedom to provide services...).

In judgment Bundesrepublik Deutschland c/ Y. and Z. of 5 September 2012 (joined cases C-71/11 and C-99/11), the Court specified to what extent violations of freedom of religion can constitute persecution in the sense of Article 9 of Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum norms for conditions that non-EU nationals or stateless persons must fulfil in order to qualify for refugee status (for further informations, see Current debates 5 sept. 2012).