Lois McLatchie Miller Slovakia might be a distant land, and Covid a distant memory. But a significant case brought to the European Court of Human Rights could bring closure to some of the legal questions posed during the pandemic – much-needed closure that many European nations have not yet received, writes Lois McLatchie Miller. A challenge brought against the Slovakian government could mark the first time that Europe’s top human rights court rules on whether the shutting down of worship spaces during the pandemic was unlawful & disproportionate. It’s a question that started off in Scotland. During our own lockdown, the Scottish government placed a blanket ban on attending all places of worship – despite available accommodations for health measures such as social distancing and hand-washing. Meanwhile, off-licences and bicycle shops remained open for business. Even cinemas were used as spaces for remote jury trials. In the first successful challenge brought against Covid measures in the UK, a chorus of evangelical church leaders, and a Catholic priest from the Calton, both brought cases against the disproportionality of church closures. Backed by the legal advocacy charity ADF UK and represented by Aidan O’Neil KC, Canon Tom White submitted to the […]
