HR Case Law

A., B. and C. v. Ireland

Three women traveled to the UK for abortions because it was illegal in Ireland. A and B did not have medical risks, but C had cancer and feared for her health.

Al-Skeini v. UK

The UK exercised powers in Iraq; a person was killed during a security operation by British soldiers.

Al-Sadoon and Mufdhi v. UK

Prisoners under British control in Iraq were to be handed over to local authorities where the death penalty applied.

Anchugov v. Gladkov

A conflict between an ECtHR judgment (prisoners' voting rights) and the Russian Constitution. Russia allowed some prisoners (in camps) to vote but not those in prison.

Antović and Mirković v. Montenegro

A dean installed cameras in classrooms, claiming it was for safety; professors claimed it violated privacy.

Assanidze v. Georgia

A man was detained arbitrarily. To restore the situation, the state had no choice but to set him free.

Axel Springer AG v. Germany

A magazine was fined for publishing articles about the arrest of a well-known actor for cocaine possession.

Baka v. Hungary

A high judicial official criticized new legislation and was subsequently dismissed (forced to retire).

Baldassi and others v. France

Activists involved in a "boycott Israel" campaign were sanctioned for hate speech.

Bankovic v. Belgium

Citizens sued NATO states for the bombing of Sarajevo.

Ben el Mahi v. Denmark

The "Danish cartoons" case. Moroccan applicants complained about cartoons published in Denmark.

Beyeler v. Italy

A man bought a Van Gogh painting. Years later, the state exercised a right of pre-emption at the original (lower) price, despite the painting's value increasing significantly.

Borgers v. Belgium

The public prosecutor gave advice to the Court of Cassation and participated in deliberations without the accused being able to respond.

Bosphorus Airways v. Ireland

An aircraft leased by a Turkish company was seized in Ireland under EU regulations implementing UN sanctions against Yugoslavia.

Botta v. Italy

A person in a wheelchair complained that private beaches were inaccessible.

Bouyid v. Belgium

Police officers slapped two minors during an ID check at a police station.

Broeks v. Netherlands

A married woman was denied unemployment benefits that a married man would have received.

Broniowski v. Poland

Polish citizens who lost property after WWII were promised compensation they never received. This affected thousands of people.

Budayeva v. Russia

Mudslides destroyed homes and killed people; authorities knew of the risk but took no measures.

Burmych v. Ukraine

Addressed repetitive cases where the state failed to execute judgments.

Campbell v. UK

Corporal punishment in British schools.

Carter v. Russia

Litvinenko was poisoned by Russian agents in the UK.

Castells v. Spain

A senator was imprisoned for criticizing the government's inaction regarding murders of political dissidents.

Centro 7 v. Italy

Authorities delayed granting operational frequencies to a TV broadcaster, favoring Berlusconi's companies.

Chapman v. UK

A Gypsy (Roma) was refused permission to station caravans on her land.

Christine Goodwin v. UK

A post-operative transsexual woman was still legally classified as a man (e.g., for pension/insurance).

Classens v. Belgium

Prisoners were not allowed to shower during strikes by prison staff.

D.H. v. Czech Republic

Roma children were disproportionately placed in special schools for the mentally disabled.

Delfi AS v. Estonia

A news portal was held liable for offensive comments posted by anonymous users.

Demir and Baykara v. Turkey

A trade union was dissolved; the state claimed no right to collective bargaining existed.

Dickson v. UK

Refusal of artificial insemination facilities for a prisoner.

Dink v. Turkey

Journalist Hrant Dink was prosecuted for "insulting Turkishness" and later murdered after authorities ignored death threats.

Dudgeon v. UK

A man in Northern Ireland complained about laws criminalizing homosexual acts, even though he had not been prosecuted.

El Masri v. FYROM

A suspect was handed over to the CIA, detained in a hotel, beaten, and flown to Afghanistan ("extraordinary rendition").

Engel v. Netherlands

Soldiers were punished with disciplinary measures.

E.S. v. Austria

A woman was convicted for calling the Prophet Muhammad a pedophile.

Eskelinen v. Finland

Civil servants complained about the length of proceedings regarding their wages.

Evans v. UK

A woman wanted to use frozen embryos after her partner withdrew consent.

Féret v. Belgium

A politician distributed racist leaflets during an election campaign.

Fernández Martínez v. Spain

A married priest teaching religion was not renewed after his situation was publicized.

Former King of Greece v. Greece

The royal family's property was confiscated by the state without compensation.

Fuentes Bobo v. Spain

An employee was fired for offensive remarks about his employer.

Gäfgen v. Germany

Police threatened a kidnapper with torture to find the victim (who was already dead).

Gardel v. France

A sex offender's DNA was kept in a database for 30 years.

Giuliani and Gaggio v. Italy

A protester was killed by police during the G8 summit in Genoa.

Golder v. UK

A prisoner was denied permission to contact a lawyer to sue a guard for libel.

Goodwin v. UK

A journalist was ordered to reveal his source.

Grootboom

A case about people living in squalid conditions demanding housing.

Grosaru v. Romania

Electoral control was done by the parliament itself, lacking impartiality.

Guja v. Moldova

A civil servant leaked a letter proving corruption (whistleblowing).

Gündüz v. Turkey

A sect member criticized democracy and called for Sharia on TV.

Handyside v. UK

The "Little Red Schoolbook" was banned for obscenity (sexual education for kids).

Hatton v. UK

Residents near Heathrow complained about noise from night flights.

Hirsi Jamaa v. Italy

Migrants were intercepted at sea by Italian ships and returned to Libya ("pushbacks").

Hornsby v. Greece

Applicants won a court case for a permit, but the administration refused to comply.

Hutten-Czopska v. Poland

Rent control laws froze rents at very low levels, making it impossible for landlords to maintain properties.

Ibrahim v. UK

Terrorist suspects were interrogated without a lawyer to prevent further attacks.

Immobiliare Saffi v. Italy

Landlords could not evict tenants even after lease expiration due to suspension of evictions by the state.

Incal v. Turkey

A politician was convicted for a pamphlet criticizing measures against Kurds.

Ireland v. UK

The "Five Techniques" (hooding, wall-standing, noise, etc.) used in Northern Ireland.

James v. UK

Leasehold reform allowed tenants to buy their homes from landlords.

Jersild v. Denmark

A journalist interviewed "Green Jackets" (racists) and was convicted for aiding hate speech.

Kalifatstaat v. Germany

An association advocating for the Caliphate and Sharia was banned.

Khurshid Mustafa and Tarzibachi v. Sweden

Tenants were evicted for installing a satellite dish to watch Arabic channels.

Kleyn v. Netherlands

The Council of State had both advisory and judicial functions.

Kopecky v. Slovakia

A claim for restitution of gold coins confiscated in the past.

Korolev v. Russia

A dispute over a very small sum of money (less than 1 euro).

Koufaki and Adedy v. Greece

Austerity measures reduced public sector wages and pensions.

Kress v. France

The "Government Commissioner" participated in Council of State deliberations.

L.B. v. Hungary

Tax defaulters' personal data was published ("shaming").

Lambert v. France

A man in a vegetative state; family disagreed on withdrawing life support.

Laskey, Jaggard and Brown v. UK

Men were convicted for consensual sado-masochistic acts (SM) that caused injury.

L.C.B. v. UK

A child had leukemia; claimed it was due to father's exposure to nuclear tests.

Leander v. Sweden

A person was denied a job in the navy due to a secret police file labeling him a communist.

Lingens v. Austria

A journalist was fined for calling a politician's behavior "immoral."

Lombardi Vallauri v. Italy

A professor at a Catholic university was denied tenure due to "unorthodox views" without explanation.

Lopez Ostra v. Spain

Fumes from a waste treatment plant caused health problems for a family.

M.N. v. Belgium

Syrian family applied for a visa at the Belgian embassy in Beirut.

M.S.S. v. Belgium and Greece

An asylum seeker was transferred from Belgium to Greece under Dublin Regulation.

Magyar Helsinki v. Hungary

An NGO was denied access to information about public defenders.

Makaratzis v. Greece

Police used excessive force during a car chase.

Marckx v. Belgium

Belgian law discriminated against "illegitimate" children regarding inheritance/family ties.

Mastromatteo v. Italy

A prisoner on leave committed murder.

McCann v. UK

SAS soldiers shot suspected IRA terrorists in Gibraltar who turned out to be unarmed.

ML v. Poland

A woman was denied abortion despite fetal defects, due to legal uncertainty.

Mortier v. Belgium

A case concerning euthanasia of a depressed woman.

Nachova v. Bulgaria

Roma men were shot by military police; no investigation into racist motive.

Öcalan v. Turkey

The leader of the PKK was arrested in Kenya by Turkish agents.

Oneryildiz v. Turkey

A methane explosion at a rubbish tip killed slum dwellers.

Opuz v. Turkey

A woman and her mother were victims of severe domestic violence; the mother was eventually killed by the husband.

Paposhvili v. Belgium

A seriously ill foreigner was to be deported to Georgia where care was unavailable.

Parrillo v. Italy

A woman wanted to donate frozen embryos to science; Italian law forbade it.

Perinçek v. Switzerland

A Turkish politician denied the Armenian genocide in Switzerland and was convicted.

Piersack v. Belgium

The presiding judge had previously worked on the same case as a prosecutor.

Pla and Puncernau v. Andorra

A will excluded adopted children from inheritance.

Pressos Compania Naviera v. Belgium

The "Loodsenarrest". A retroactive law exempted the state from liability for ship pilot errors.