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Italy school crucifixes 'barred' | Italy school crucifixes 'barred' |
(41 minutes later) | |
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy. | The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy. |
It said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit, and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion. | It said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit, and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion. |
The case was brought by an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, who wants to give her children a secular education. | The case was brought by an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, who wants to give her children a secular education. |
But the ruling has sparked anger in the largely Catholic country, with one politician calling the move "shameful". | But the ruling has sparked anger in the largely Catholic country, with one politician calling the move "shameful". |
The Strasbourg court found that: "The compulsory display of a symbol of a given confession in premises used by the public authorities... restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions." | The Strasbourg court found that: "The compulsory display of a symbol of a given confession in premises used by the public authorities... restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions." |
It also restricted the "right of children to believe or not to believe", the seven judges ruling on the case said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency. | It also restricted the "right of children to believe or not to believe", the seven judges ruling on the case said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency. |
'Italian tradition' | |
Mrs Lautsi complained to the European court that her children had to attend a public school in northern Italy that had crucifixes in every room. | Mrs Lautsi complained to the European court that her children had to attend a public school in northern Italy that had crucifixes in every room. |
She was awarded 5,000 euros ($7,400; £4,500) in damages. | |
But many politicians in Italy have reacted angrily. | But many politicians in Italy have reacted angrily. |
Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the crucifix was a "symbol of our tradition", and not a mark of Catholicism. | |
One government minister called the ruling "shameful", while another said that Europe was forgetting its Christian heritage. | |
The government says it will appeal against the decision. The Vatican says it will study the ruling before issuing a comment. | |
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome says that it is customary in Italy to see crucifixes in public buildings, including schools, despite the constitution saying that there should be a separation of church and state. | |
The law requiring crucifixes to be hung in schools dates back to the 1920s. | |
Although a revised accord between the Vatican and the Italian government ended Catholicism's position as the state religion in 1984, the crucifix law has never been repealed. | |
Some conservatives have already complained about schools dropping nativity plays to avoid upsetting Muslim children. |