Legacy Cases Archives

Pastors Tonchev and Kiryakov: Bulgaria

Two Bulgarian pastors stood up against a scaremongering campaign by their local government to label all non-Eastern Orthodox Christians as sects and warn children off against them. The ECHR heard their case, they won and were awarded damages.

Shagufta and Shafqat: Pakistan

The Pakistani Christian couple Shagufta and Shafqat languished on death row for seven years on false blasphemy charges. Their death sentence was overturned in June 2021. They are now safe in Europe.

Let Us Worship: Geneva

Swiss doctor wins legal challenge to unlawful ban on public worship.

Zavod ŽIVIM: Slovenia

Can state-owned service providers pull down ads that authorities decide they don’t like? In Slovenia, a state-owned bus company removed ads commissioned by the pro-life NGO Zavod ŽIV!M.

Canon Tom: Scotland

Glasgow Priest Canon Tom challenged the Scottish government’s blanket ban on public worship at Scotland’s top court – and won.

Tom Mortier: Belgium

In a significant ruling on euthanasia in Oct 2022, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Belgium violated the right to life in the case of Tom Mortier’s mother.

Pavez vs Chile: Latin America

The decisions of parents regarding the religious education of their children may be disregarded – so ruled the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 20th April 2022.

Christian Cortez Pérez: Mexico

Students should not fear for their careers when they voice their views in an academic setting.

Pavica Vojnović: Germany

Pavica is challenging the German town of Pforzheim’s decision to ban her “40 Days for Life Group” prayer vigils outside an abortion organisation.

Kika Nieto: Colombia

The video in which Colombian YouTuber Kika Nieto shared her beliefs about marriage, should not have been censored – so ruled the Colombian Supreme Court.