From the Watch Tower to the Acropolis: The Search for a Consistent Religious Freedom Standard in an Inconsistent World

Authors

Casey Jo Cooper

Abstract

In late 2011, Greek authorities convicted a Pentecostal Christian for proselytizing to another man. In Greece, proselytism is a crime punishable by hefty fines and imprisonment and is strictly prohibited by both the Constitution and statutes. Emmanuel Damavolitis, a Pentecostal Christian, now faces four months in prison and a fine of €840 for proselytism. His attorney, Vassilios Tsirbas, appealed his case to the European Court of Human Rights ('ECHR'), claiming the conviction violates Article 9 of the European Convention ofHuman Rights. This case illustrates how creating a framework for securing religious freedom is a paradox amidst the democratic revolution of the modern world.

Recommended Citation

Casey J. Cooper, From the Watch Tower to the Acropolis: The Search for a Consistent Religious Freedom Standard in an Inconsistent World, 28 Emory Int'l L. Rev. 509 (2014).
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/eilr/vol28/iss1/12