All cases
UK Christian Teacher Dismissed after Responding to Pupils, Stating that She Is Pro-Life
October 10, 2026, United KingdomA Christian teacher at Biddick Academy in Sunderland has brought a religious discrimination claim after being dismissed following classroom conversations in which she expressed her pro-life beliefs. Anita Meston says she answered pupils’ questions before redirecting the class to the subject without imposing her views.
Felix Ngole Addresses Court of Appeal in Religious Discrimination Case
September 28, 2026, United KingdomOn 28 September 2026, Christian social worker Felix Ngole returned to the Court of Appeal in his dispute with a mental health charity that withdrew his job offer after discovering his publicly expressed Christian beliefs. A tribunal has already ruled that the initial withdrawal was religious discrimination, and a further appeal found errors in how his remaining claims were decided. Ngole is now asking the court to rule on those claims without requiring him to repeat part of the case before the same tribunal.
UK Evangelist Acquitted after Prosecution for Sharing Gospel Leaflets in Soho
September 4, 2026, United KingdomOn 4 September 2026, a London court acquitted Christian evangelist Richard Johnson, who had been prosecuted for distributing a Gospel leaflet in Soho. A complainant described the neighbourhood as an LGBT “safe space”, and prosecutors argued that the location mattered when assessing the leaflet. The court found that the prosecution had not proved a public order offence, despite accepting that the leaflet had upset and offended its reader.
French Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Law Leaves Christian Care Institutions with Conditional Protection
August 14, 2026, FranceOn 14 August 2026, the Constitutional Council upheld France’s legislation permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia, while requiring additional safeguards. Pharmacists gained protection against compulsory participation, but private Christian care institutions may refuse the procedure on their premises only where it clearly conflicts with their institutional mission and other establishments can meet local needs. This leaves their ability to uphold institutional conscientious objection dependent on the availability of alternative services.
Car insurance Revoked Over ‘Jesus Loves You’ Stickers
August 7, 2026, United KingdomA Christian driver in the United Kingdom was told that his car insurance could not continue unless he removed “Jesus Loves You” messages displayed on his vehicle. The case has raised concerns about whether peaceful expressions of Christian belief can affect access to ordinary commercial services.
Scottish Teacher Takes Legal Action After Dismissal For Expressing Pro-Life Beliefs
July 30, 2026, United KingdomA Catholic teacher in Scotland has brought an employment tribunal claim after being dismissed for expressing her pro-life beliefs in response to pupils' questions during a classroom discussion. She alleges that her dismissal discriminated against her because of her Catholic beliefs and violated her freedom to express them in the workplace.
Call to Remove Religious Symbols Hits European Court
July 28, 2026, GreeceIn July 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) communicated Union of Atheists v. Greece (Application No. 001-244533), a case seeking the removal of Christian icons from Greek courtrooms. The application reflects a broader attempt to eliminate longstanding religious symbols from public institutions across Europe, raising concerns about whether state neutrality is increasingly interpreted as requiring the erasure of religious heritage from public life.
NI Police Guidance Warns Carrying a Bible Could Be an Offence Under "Buffer Zone" Law
July 28, 2026, United KingdomNew guidance issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has raised concerns that ordinary Christian pastoral ministry could fall within the scope of Northern Ireland's abortion buffer zone legislation. According to the guidance, activities such as praying with patients at their request, reading Scripture or carrying a Bible through certain areas of a hospital may constitute criminal offences if they are considered capable of influencing or causing distress to a person accessing abortion services. Critics argue that the guidance illustrates the far-reaching scope of buffer zone legislation and risks creating a chilling effect on the peaceful exercise of freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
Swiss Evangelical Leaders Challenge Geneva's Ban on Religious Symbols for Elected Representatives
July 17, 2026, SwitzerlandThree Swiss evangelical leaders have filed a legal challenge against a constitutional amendment in the Canton of Geneva prohibiting elected representatives from wearing visible religious symbols while carrying out their official duties. The applicants argue that the measure violates freedom of religion and undermines democratic representation by requiring parliamentarians to conceal their religious identity.
Police Intervention Against Christian Praying and Holing Bible at Brandenburg Gate
July 3, 2026, GermanyA video recorded at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate raises concerns about interference with the right to freely manifest one's religion after police officers told a Christian he could not pray at the site because it was "not a place for praying" and "not a church". Although the Christian was quietly reading from his Bible and praying without using amplification or engaging passers-by, officers treated his conduct as a demonstration because he was publicly holding a Bible. The incident raises questions about the understanding of religious freedom among law enforcement officers and the protection of peaceful religious expression in public spaces.
Catholic religion teacher in Belgium receives threats after conversion from Islam
June 30, 2026, BelgiumIn June 2026, Ahmed Yetrib, a Catholic religion teacher in the Charleroi region and convert from Islam to the Catholic faith, reported receiving threats on social media because of his online content sharing the reasons for his conversion. The report concerns alleged harassment which has caused concern for his personal safety, further highlighting the difficulties experienced by individuals converting from Islam to Christianity.
Draft Bill Raises Concerns about Church Governance and Parental Rights
June 25, 2026, United KingdomThe UK Government has proposed new criminal offences targeting so-called “conversion practices” in England and Wales, carrying sentences of up to five years’ imprisonment. Christian organisations have raised concerns about undefined references to “psychological or emotional pressure” and the absence of explicit exemptions for ordinary parenting, prayer, pastoral care and religious teaching.
ECtHR Questions Spain over Ban on Christian Father Sharing Faith with His Son
June 11, 2026, SpainOn 11 June 2026, the European Court of Human Rights communicated the application of an evangelical father prohibited by Spanish courts from taking his son to church, reading the Bible with him or otherwise sharing his faith until the child reaches twelve. The ECtHR has asked Spain whether state religious neutrality can be extended to parents inside their own homes and whether the restrictions were imposed without evidence that the father’s religious practices had harmed the child.
European Court of Human Rights Upholds Right to Door-to-Door Religious Outreach
June 9, 2026, BulgariaOn 9 June 2026, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Bulgaria violated the right to freedom of religion by upholding a municipal ban on door-to-door religious outreach in the city of Shumen. The Court found that the measure amounted to a disproportionate restriction on religious freedom because it broadly prohibited religious evangelisation at residents’ homes without sufficient justification. The judgment reaffirms that peaceful missionary activity is protected under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
ISIS-related online threats ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain
June 2, 2026, SpainAs reported on 2 June, a media outlet of the so-called Islamic State posted an online threat which appeared to be targeting Pope Leo XIV in anticipation of his visit to Spain and the start of the World Cup. Following the circulation of the image, local groups urged the government to take effective counterterrorism measures.
ECtHR Condemns Türkiye for Removing Greek Orthodox Priests from Minority Foundations
May 26, 2026, TurkeyThe European Court of Human Rights ruled that Türkiye violated the rights of two Greek Orthodox priests who had been removed from the governing boards of minority foundations in Istanbul solely because they were members of the clergy. The Court found that the authorities lacked a legal basis for excluding the priests from the management of institutions belonging to the Greek Orthodox community, violating their freedom of association interpreted in light of freedom of religion. The judgment represents an important affirmation of the right of religious minorities to govern their own institutions without undue state interference.
Finnish Authorities Fine City Over Traditional Christian Song at School Celebrations
May 15, 2026, FinlandAuthorities in Finland have fined the city of Espoo €10,000 and ordered it to pay a pupil €2,500 in compensation after ruling that exposure to traditional Christian song during Christmas and end-of-year school celebrations amounted to discrimination.
Pastor Convicted Under "Buffer Zone" Law for Open-Air Sermon Near Hospital
May 7, 2026, IrelandRetired pastor Clive Johnston was convicted on 7 May 2026 at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2023 for conducting an open-air Sunday service within a "buffer zone" outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. The sermon did not refer to abortion or contain explicit pro-life messaging, but the court ruled that, given the location and surrounding circumstances, the conduct constituted a criminal offence.
Päivi Räsänen appeals to European Court of Human Rights
May 7, 2026, FinlandFinnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) after the Finnish Supreme Court convicted her of “agitation against a minority group” over a Christian pamphlet published more than 20 years ago, a case that has become a major free speech dispute in Europe.
Church Appeals Public Order Notice Restricting Street Outreach in Colchester
May 1, 2026, United KingdomBread of Life Community Church in Colchester, Essex, is appealing against a Community Protection Notice (CPN) restricting its street outreach. The notice is believed to be an unprecedented use of public-order legislation against an entire church, rather than individual street preachers, and raises concerns as it addresses not only the manner of preaching but also the content of religious messaging.