All cases
German Family's Homeschooling Case Filed at European Court of Human Rights
April 6, 2017, GermanyThe Wunderlich family brought its case against Germany to the European Court of Human Rights in April 2017. In 2013, the Christian parents began homeschooling their children. German authorities took temporary custody of the children and imposed criminal penalties on the parents for not sending their children to school. The European Court of Human Rights will examine whether Germany violated the Wunderlich’s fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children.
Government Announces Compulsory Sex Education
February 28, 2017, United KingdomThe government announced that sex and relationships education will become compulsory in all of England's schools. Relationships education will be compulsory for all pupils from the age of four years, but parents will have the right to withdraw their children from sexual education program. Critics view the law as weakening the influence of parents' right to educate their children about sex and relationships.
Christian parents fear 'gender-confused' daughter will be taken away
October 23, 2016, United KingdomChristian parents fear their 14-year-old daughter will be taken into foster care unless they allow her to change her female name to a male one.
Humanist Society Scotland Challenges Parental Opt-Out for Religious Observance in Schools; wants Children to Decide
September 12, 2016, United KingdomThe Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) is seeking judicial review after the Scottish Government rejected calls for a change to the current rules which permit only parents to opt out on their children’s behalf.
Green Party a Threat to Religious Liberty in Australia
May 21, 2016, InternationalArchbishop Anthony Fisher warned that religious liberty is at stake in Australia's national elections because of the Green's proposed $32 million "Safe Schools" Program which would charge parents, schools, and churches with discrimination if they fail to conform.
Norway Begins Adoption Process for 5 Children Seized From Christian Parents
December 31, 2015, NorwayNorwegian child services have begun the adoption process for five children who were seized from a Romanian Pentecostal family in November after concerns were expressed about the parents' Christian faith, the family says.
Norway's Child Welfare Services Removes Five Children from a Pentecostal Christian Couple
November 16, 2015, NorwayAccording to a petition in support of the family which has attracted more than 22,600 signatures, the couple have been charged with "Christian radicalism and indoctrination".
Student Physically Forced to Attend Sex Education
June 22, 2015, GermanyIn North Rhine-Westphalia, a 10 year old boy was forcefully removed from his home and forced to attend sex education without his parents’ consent.
Parents Protesting Against Aggressive Sex Education Attacked by Counter-Demonstration in Hamburg
January 25, 2015, GermanyProtesters demonstrated against the "violation of parents’ rights in education" of their children.150 parents were attacked by about 600 left-wing radicals who threw eggs, fireworks and bottles into the crowd of demonstrators. A 15 year-old girl had to be taken to the hospital. Police intervened.
Organized Campaign Against Building Religious Schools in Madrid
November 28, 2014, SpainA group of people organized a campaign against building religious schools in Spain and painted slogans "Your education - our destruction” on walls of the church of Santa Monica in Rivas Vaciamadrid. Moreover, some protesters in green jerseys (as a symbol of public schools) broke into the church with praying people to express their opinion. Local right-wing party PP decalred that it was another example of the radical atmosphere in the town.
German Father Imprisoned for Opting his Child out of Sex Education
April 7, 2014, GermanyOn Monday, April 7th, Arthur Wiens was jailed for opting his child out of a sex education class in which nine-year-olds are taught about sexual intercourse with a plush vagina and rubber penis. Wiens spent a week behind bars, and his wife is threatened with a similar punishment.
Christian Parents Convicted for Home-schooling, Appeal Rejected
October 24, 2013, GermanyOn May 22nd the district court sentenced the parents of nine to pay a fine of 700 Euro each for their violation of the compulsory school attendance for all children in Germany. The public prosecution department demanded six months in prison for the married couple due to their repeated offense. An appeal was rejected in October.
Government Takes Children From Christian Community
September 5, 2013, GermanyIn the early morning of September 5th, a massive police raid of 100 police and 60 social workers descended on two of the Christian Twelve Tribes Communities of Klosterzimmern and Wörnitz. The police seized 40 children from 16 families and took them away in 25 vans on allegations of physical abuse.
No Parental Consent with Regard to Abortion
May 21, 2013, BelgiumParental consent with regard to abortion virtually does not exist. There is no legal requirement to inform the parents of a minor wanting abortion. However, if the minor needs full anaesthesia, the parents will need to give their consent.
State Claims Political Correctness in Schools
May 21, 2013, FranceThe state is very strict with regard to political correctness in schools. It is very difficult for Christian teachers to debate with their pupils about abortion. One of the most striking cases was Philippe Hisnard, a French Catholic teacher who was revoked and suspended from teaching because he organised a debate about abortion in a class of “civic education”.
Home-schooling Prohibited
May 21, 2013, Germany“Home-schooling” is prohibited. Parents’ rights are commonly understood to include the right to choose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as so-called home-schooling. Germany, however, allows home-schooling only in the most exceptional circumstances. In general, parents do not have the option to home-school their children. Offenders have to pay fines, and occasionally prison sentences are pronounced.
Home-schooling Severely Limited
May 21, 2013, SlovakiaHome-schooling is severely limited in Slovakia. In fact, it is allowed only for pupils of 1st - 4th class in basic schools, for disabled children, or for children in custody and who are not able to go to school for longer than two months for health reasons. Permission for “individual education” must be granted by the director of the district school of the pupil. Another major problem is that the person who teaches the pupils must have a pedagogical university qualification. As a consequence, home-schooling is very rare in Slovakia.
State Educational Programme Angers Christian Parents
May 21, 2013, SpainSpanish educational law includes a set of mandatory subjects under the generic category of Education for Citizenship which are indoctrinatory and violates the rights of parents. The Education for Citizenship curriculum is mandatory for primary and secondary education (children ages 10-16), and must be implemented into all Spanish schools (public and private).
Home-schooling Practically Prohibited
May 21, 2013, SwedenAccording to the Education Act (2010:800) home-schooling is practically forbidden in Sweden. Home-schooling is allowed only when exceptional circumstances apply, which is hardly ever granted. According to the preparatory work of the government bill, permissions should be granted with great restraint, stating explicitly that religious and philosophical reasons are not to be considered as exceptional circumstances.
No Opt Out of Sex Education
May 21, 2013, SwedenIn 2011, the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company, a public service company (UR), launched a sex education campaign in Swedish schools, called “Putting sex on the map” (co-produced by RFSU, a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation), targeting children of lower secondary school age. Parents objected to the content of the materials, including explicit images and sex scenes, and scientific information, including physical and psychological risks of early sex debut and many sexual partners or abortion.
No Parental Consent Necessary for Minors' Abortion
May 21, 2013, SwedenThere is no parental consent with regard to abortion. Much attention was drawn to a case where an eleven-year-old girl had undergone two abortions in a very short period of time without parental consent. The Parliamentary Ombudsman held that it had gone too far and concluded that “it is obvious that a child of this age (11 years) does not have the maturity to consider the consequences of an abortion by herself.”
Home-schooling Prohibition Challenged at European Court of Human Rights
April 22, 2013, SwedenAlliance Defending Freedom and the Home School Legal Defence Association have asked the European Court of Human Rights to hear the case of a Swedish family heavily fined for home-schooling their daughter. Although the 13-year-old girl flourished in her home-schooling environment, local Swedish authorities fined her family the equivalent of more than $28,000.
Schoolchild Punished for Refusing to Memorise a Verse of the Koran
January 29, 2013, FranceA child at a Catholic school in France was punished for refusing to memorise a verse of the Koran in January 2013. At the school of Notre Dame de St Mihiel in the Meuse, Lorraine, a pupil refused to memorise a verse of the Koran as a part of a class on Islam. Two mothers arranged a meeting with the teacher to explain their disagreement with the punishment. Instead of removing the punishment or allowing the student to opt-out of the class the school director informed the mother of the punished child that she considers removing the child from the school.
New Mandatory Sex Ed Programme Violates Rights of Parents
January 27, 2013, CroatiaChristian parents are outraged over the contents of the governments new sex ed. programme. The government insisted and made opting out illegal, until the constitutional court found that the contents were against the law.
Minister of Science, Education and Sports Recommendation not in Keeping with Legal Regulations
January 1, 2013, CroatiaThe Recommendation by the Minister of Science, Education and Sports, Mr. Ž. Jovanović, on conducting religious instruction in elementary schools during the first and last hours of the day (as of April 3, 2012), is still in force. This Recommendation discriminates against the regular nature of religious instruction which was agreed upon in international contracts.
New Legislation on Gay Marriage Might Get Teachers Fired
November 18, 2012, United KingdomThe British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Liz Truss, states she was not able to rule out the possibility that teachers refusing to use stories or textbooks favoring same sex- marriage face disciplinary consequences.
German Parents Lose Custody of Their Children for Homeschooling
October 5, 2012, GermanyA district court in Darmstadt, Germany has revoked custody of four children from their parents and ordered it turned over to the Jugendamt, Germany’s child protective agency.
„Homeschooling“ Still Prohibited
September 19, 2012, GermanyParents rights are commonly understood to include the right to chose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as the so-called homeschooling. Not so in Germany.
Compulsory Sex Ed Problematic for Christian Families
September 19, 2012, GermanyGermany’s strict federal laws on compulsory school attendance do not allow any opt out with regard to sexual education.
Prime Minister Thinks Teachers Should Not Be Allowed to Teach that Homosexual Behavior Was a Sin
September 16, 2012, United KingdomPrime minister David Cameron thinks that faith schools should not be allowed to teach that homosexuality is a sin, according to a quote featured by the Daily Mail.
Teachers and Others Threatened With Dismissal if They Didn’t Endorse Gay Marriage
September 12, 2012, United KingdomIf gay marriage is legalized, teachers and others could be forced out of their jobs if they fail to endorse such unions, a top lawyer says. Parents would have no right to insist that their children are withdrawn from school lessons across the curriculum that approve of same-sex marriage. Chaplains who work in the NHS or the Armed Forces could be dismissed if they preach that marriage is between a man and a woman.
CoE PACE Proposal Might Endanger Parents' Rights to Religious Education
September 6, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)French member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe proposed a report on the protection of children against 'sectarian drifts' which possibly collides with the parents' right to religious education of their choice.
Teacher Flunks High School Student for Saying that Homosexuality is an “Abnormal Orientation"
September 1, 2012, SwedenDuring a biology class a Swedish high school student spoke up and called homosexuality an “abnormal sexual orientation”. As a result of this comment the teacher flunked the student. The reasoning of the teacher is that it is the task of the educational system to teach pupils respect for all sexual orientations. The opposing view of the student doesn’t correspond to the curriculum’s goal.
Boys Life Support Unit Switched Off Against The Wish of Christian Parents
August 29, 2012, United KingdomThe Judge of London’s Royal Court of Justice ruled on August 10th that the life support system of an 8-year- old boy may be switched off by team of doctors, ignoring parents’ wish to keep him alive.
Homeschooling Restricted in Austria
June 19, 2012, AustriaSeveral English – speaking Christian families who home educate their children in Austria have come under pressure by the Austrian school authorities for educating their children in English. They have been fined and threatened with the children being taken away – even though there are schools in Austria which teach exclusively in English.
Court Upholds Homeschooling-Ban Rendering Religious Convictions Irrelevant
April 25, 2012, GermanyReformed-baptist parents, who wanted to homeschool their three children, lost in the regional administrational court of Baden-Würtemberg in Mannheim. The parents wanted to homeschool to protect their children from a form of „emancipation“ they did not favor, as well as in order to teach them Christian sexual ethics.
Homeschooling Association Leader Feels Forced to Move to Finnland
March 2, 2012, SwedenJonas Himmelstrand, who is president of the Swedish Association for Home Education (ROHUS), has left the country saying, “the safety of my family could no longer be guaranteed,” and that the government of the town of Uppsala was “threatening” him.
Homeschooling Severely Limited, Proposal of Relaxation Rejected
February 29, 2012, SlovakiaTo educate one's children privately at home is understood to be a human right of parents. The state is called upon to ensure the quality of the home education. In Slovakia, the so-called homeschooling is severaly limited. Such a law jeopardizes especially Christians families, as practically it is often Christians who wish to homeschool their children.
Catholic Schools Singled Out and Targeted for Distributing Faith-Based Moral Literature
February 27, 2012, United KingdomAn Christian booklet has been distributed to students in some Catholic schools in Lancashire, UK. Its comments on homosexuality raised the discontent of UK’s largest trades union, who says that the government is allowing “homophobia” to be promoted in religious schools.
Labour Party Calls for Prohibition of Enrollment Policies Based on Religion in Catholic Schools
February 1, 2012, IrelandAccording to an Irish Labor party proposal to be discussed in April, ‘Catholics first’ policy in state-funded Catholic schools is illegal, discriminatory and should be abolished.
Liberal Politician Calls for Even Harsher Penalities of Restrictive Homeschooling Laws
January 10, 2012, SwedenThe Swedish liberal party politician Lotta Edholm called for even harsher penalties for homeschooling and for a change to the country’s social services law so that the government can take children away from home-schooling families more easily by allowing social workers to do so.
Sexual Education Class Violates Parents' Rights
December 4, 2011, HungaryHungarian parents of an 11-year-old reported that in December 2011 their daughter came back from school having experienced the following: a female university student had come to their public school in a village near Budapest to provide sexual education to the children. The young woman who was alone with the children for this class, showed them slides of male and female genitals and put a condom on a cucumber and encouraged the children to touch it.
Homeschooling Parents in Fear of Loosing Custody Over Children
November 25, 2011, GermanyLocal and state education officials have threatened to take the Dudek family’s children to school by force, according to a letter to the parents Jürgen and Rosemarie Dudek.
Parents' Rights at Stake as Schools Minister Gives Green Light to Explicit Sex Ed in Science Lessons
July 12, 2011, United KingdomSPUC - director blogs of new developments in the field of education: "Parents of primary-school children from across the country are furious that Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has told Parliament that schools can teach children, including in primary school, about sex in science lessons." The problem is that parents cannot withdraw their children from sience - and contents might be unacceptable for many parents.
Legal Proposal Seeks to Deny Public Funding to Schools that Separate Boys from Girls
May 31, 2011, SpainWith the approval of the Council of Ministers of Spain, the State Department of Education, submitted a motion to the Congress to deny public funds to schools that teach their students in gender-separated classrooms. This method of education has been applied mostly by Christian school in Spain. The same was previously attempted in the regions of Asturias, Cantabria, and Andalucía.
School Children Targeted by Pro-Euthanasia Video
May 16, 2011, United Kingdom14-year-old UK students enrolled in GCSE (general certificate of secondary education) philosophy courses are being taught about euthanasia by viewing a video featuring Dr Philip Nitschke, a notorious assisted suicide campaigner and euthanasia fanatic. Nitschke, the Australian founder and director of the euthanasia group “Exit International”, known internationally as “Dr Death”, presents in a video a machine which delivers lethal injections.
Teacher Regularly Mocked Christianity in Class
April 2, 2011, AustriaA secondary grammar school teacher in Innsbruck regularly mocks and denounces Christian faith in class. The supervisory school authority has now reprimanded him.
German Mother Jailed for Refusing Government Sex-Ed
March 31, 2011, GermanyIrene Wiens, mother of twelve, served a 43-day jail sentence in Germany for refusing to enroll her children in sex-ed classes, deemed by her husband and herself to teach a permissive view of human sexuality. An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights has been filed.
Attempt to Silence Catholic Teacher
March 7, 2011, CroatiaCatholic catechism teacher of a Zagreb primary school was accused of homophobia for staying in line with the Catholic Church teachings during catechism classes.
European Parliament Attacks Lithuanian Legislative Proposal Curbing Homosexualist Propaganda
January 19, 2011, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)The European Parliament has issued a condemnation of a Lithuanian bill that seeks to prohibit the “public promotion of homosexual relations.” The bill proposes fines of between €580 and €2,900; it has not yet been passed by the Plenary of the Lithuanian Parliament and is still under review.