Information Note on the Court’s case-law 66

July 2004

Members of the Gldani Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and Others v. Georgia (dec.) - 71156/01

Decision 6.7.2004 [Section II]

Article 9

Article 9-1

Freedom of religion

Unpunished attack on a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses: admissible

The applicants are members of a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In October 1991 the congregation was attacked du ring a religious meeting by a group of Orthodox believers, headed by an excommunicated priest. The applicants were struck, beaten, trampled on and insulted. Some of them were hospitalised and their medical records confirm serious injuries and trauma, espec ially to the head, eyes and back. The assailants stole personal effects belonging to the applicants and religious literature, which was burned in front of the victims. No police officer intervened. Film recordings of the attack, made by the media, confirm the violence and indicate that the excommunicated priest had the police on his side. Some of the victims lodged complaints but no steps were taken in response. The Supreme Court noted that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ meeting had not been forbidden by the auth orities and was not contrary to public policy. The community had allegedly been the target of numerous violent attacks by the excommunicated priest’s supporters. Legal action had been taken against that individual since March 2001 further to numerous colle ctive acts of violence. None of the complaints had been seriously investigated.

Admissible under Articles 3 and 9, taken in conjunction with Articles 13 and 14, and under Articles 10 and 11.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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