Date of the judgment: 26.04.2018.
Official publication: 27.04.2018.
On compliance of Section 7(2) and Section 8(4) of the Law on Religious Organisations with Articles 99 and 102 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and on compliance of Section 7(3) of the Law on Religious Organisations with Articles 91, 99 and 102 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia
Case short name: ChurchesThe Constitutional Court held:
1. To recognise Section 7 (2) of the Law on Religious Organisations, insofar it does not envisage to the congregations, which are commencing their activities in the Republic of Latvia and are not affiliated with the religious associations (churches) that are already registered in the state, the right to establish a religious organisation (church) before the re-registration term of ten years has expired, as being incompatible with Article 99 and Article 102 of the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia.
2. To recognise Section 7 (3) and Section 8 (4) of the Law on Religious Organisations as being incompatible with Article 99 and Article 102 of the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia.
Press-releases
- The norms that prohibit newly established congregations from establishing a religious association (church) before the registration period of ten years expires or if one church has already been registered in the respective denomination are incompatible with Article 99 and Article 102 of the Satversme
- A case initiated with regard to the norms of the Law on Religious Organisations setting out requirements for establishing a religious association (church)