European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights ruled Italy violated the privacy rights of the Grande Oriente d’Italia Masonic association after a parliamentary anti-Mafia commission raided its headquarters and seized member data in 2017. The court acknowledged the legitimacy of investigating Mafia links but found the search overly broad and lacking sufficient oversight.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Lithuania violated the rights of Abd al-Rahim Hussein al-Nashiri, a Saudi national held in a CIA-operated black site in Lithuania from October 2005 to March 2006. The court found Lithuania responsible for his isolation and transfer despite risks of evidence obtained through torture being used against him in a U.S. military trial.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that criticizing soccer referees is protected free speech but accusing them of corruption without evidence crosses legal boundaries. The court reviewed cases involving Porto soccer club and its officials, who faced Portuguese punishments for media attacks on referees, particularly in matches against rival Benfica. While the court dismissed most claims of corruption, it deemed some referee-related criticism acceptable, noting that referees in high-profile matches face heightened public scrutiny.

Mex Muellner, an Austrian man with multiple sclerosis and Uhthoff’s syndrome, is suing Austria at the European Court of Human Rights for insufficient climate change action, arguing it exacerbates his health condition. His case could set a precedent for individual climate justice claims in 46 countries under the ECHR’s jurisdiction.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled Ukraine violated Stanislav Shevchuk's rights when fellow judges removed him from the Constitutional Court in 2019, citing an unfair disciplinary process and unclear legal standards. The court highlighted procedural flaws, including biased panel composition and ambiguous grounds for dismissal, which undermined fairness and transparency.

A Paris court is set to rule on a landmark climate change case against TotalEnergies, which could require the energy company to reduce oil and gas production by 37% and 25%, respectively, by 2030. The lawsuit, led by NGOs and the city of Paris, cites a 2017 French law mandating companies prevent environmental risks. The decision comes amid a severe European heatwave linked to human-caused climate change.

A French woman in Spain challenged the government's intervention in her planned home birth, arguing authorities violated her rights by forcing her to a hospital. The European Court of Human Rights ruled Spain's actions lawful, citing medical risks to the unborn child and proportionate measures to protect life and health.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy unlawfully excluded Jehovah’s Witnesses from its religious funding system for decades by failing to finalize an intesa agreement, which grants access to the 'otto per mille' tax scheme. The court found Italy’s process arbitrary and discriminatory, rejecting government claims about the group’s beliefs justifying exclusion.

The council removed fences blocking a bridleway after a six-year legal battle, which locals celebrated, although the owner plans to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The Conservative Party (Tories) is pushing for a legal amendment to enable British soldiers to engage in combat without the risk of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) legal challenges. They have also challenged Labour MPs to vote against the proposed change.

Former UK ministers warn that leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would harm national security and argue it is not a valid solution to address irregular migration. The centrist wing of the Conservative Party opposes the proposed withdrawal from the human rights agreement.

Pope Leo XIV visits Acerra, a toxic-waste polluted area in Italy, to meet families of children who died from cancer linked to illegal dumping by the Camorra mafia. The European Court of Human Rights ruled Italy must address the health crisis caused by decades of unchecked pollution.

Ukraine's Parliament is advancing a civil code that would prevent courts from recognizing same-sex couples as families, contradicting a February 2024 Supreme Court decision and Ukraine's EU accession commitments. The draft legislation explicitly excludes same-sex partnerships and introduces a vague 'good morals' standard that could be used to deny legal recognition to LGBTQ+ families.

An analysis found that nearly half of the judges at the European Court of Human Rights were not judges in their home countries before being promoted. This has raised concerns about the court's composition and potential biases. The findings highlight a lack of prior judicial experience among some of the court's members.

Starmer launches a fresh bid to build relationships with European human rights chiefs. The move aims to strengthen ties and cooperation. This initiative may impact UK's stance on human rights issues.

A man in Austria was taken to court for breaking wind in public. The incident led to a legal case, highlighting the country's public decency laws. The man's actions were deemed disruptive and offensive to those around him.

Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen is appealing her hate speech conviction to the European Court of Human Rights after being criminally convicted for a decades-old pamphlet on homosexuality. The pamphlet, published in 2004, referred to homosexuality as a 'developmental disorder'. Räsänen intends to uphold her free speech rights.

A migrant on disability benefits is allowed to stay in a retirement home with his wife and twins until a new place is found. The housing association initially considered eviction but decided it would breach the migrant's human rights. The family will remain in the home until alternative housing is secured.

A man and a woman have been arrested for advising asylum seekers to pretend to be gay in order to stay in the country. The legal advisers provided false guidance to individuals seeking asylum. This incident raises concerns about the integrity of the asylum process.

French police used a knife to stop a migrant small boat, prompting a report to a human rights watchdog. The incident raises concerns about the treatment of migrants by French authorities. The use of a knife to stop the boat has been criticized.

Roman Abramovich has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming Jersey's freezing of £5.3bn in his assets over corruption and money laundering allegations violates his human rights. The Russian oligarch, sanctioned by the UK for his ties to Vladimir Putin, is disputing the use of funds related to his Chelsea FC sale.