Strasbourg: Europe's court of human
rights said the display of crucifixes in Italian public
schools violates religious and education freedoms.
A seven-judge panel sided with a complaint filed by Soile
Lautsi, a parent who claimed public schools in her northern
Italian town refused to remove the Roman Catholic symbols from
classrooms. Lautsi said the crucifixes violated the secular
principles the public schools are supposed to uphold.
Today's ruling awarded USD 7,390 in damages to Lautsi,
which the Italian government is to pay her. It has not ordered
Italian authorities to remove the crucifixes.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 21:10