The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on April 8 that a controversial law in Hungary that stripped many churches of their registration violated their right to freedom of assembly and association and that their right to freedom of conscience and religion had been breached.
Hungary introduced the Church Act in 2012 as part of changes to its Constitution and associated laws. Over 300 religious groups – including several Christian denominations – lost official recognition and with it certain fiscal advantages, such as tax exemptions and subsidies. Only 14 retained state backing.
The Church Act aimed to address problems relating to the exploitation of state funds by groups formerly registered as churches that were not conducting any genuine religious activities. The court recognised Hungary’s ‘legitimate concern’ regarding this issue but said: ‘The Hungarian Government had not shown that there were not any other, less drastic solutions to problems’.
