Unit:
Department of LawLibrary of the School of Law
Author:
Pachou-Fokiali Aglaia-Maria
Dissertation committee:
Σπυρίδων Βλαχόπουλος, Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Παναγιώτης Λαζαράτος, Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος Γεραπετρίτης, Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Αικατερίνη Ηλιάδου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Ανδρέας Τσουρουφλής, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Παπασπύρου, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος Ανδρουτσόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Νομικής ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Η νομική προστασία των θρησκευτικών συμβόλων. Το παράδειγμα του σταυρού
Translated title:
Legal protection of religious symbols. The case of Christian cross.
Summary:
ABSTRACT
The subject of this thesis is the legal protection of religious symbols in the context of Greek legal system, with emphasis on the Christian cross. First, the existence of a constitutional right to the cross is examined and both domestic and international legislation concerning religious symbols is analysed. Second, the thesis focuses on the conflicts between the human right to the protection of the cross and other fundamental rights, especially those concerning personal identity, freedom of expression, freedom of art, economic growth and the protection of natural and cultural environment. Third, the presence of religious symbols in public places or government buildings is examined in the light of theory and international jurisprudence, concerning the principle of state secularism and the balancing between the positive freedom of religion of the majority and the negative one of religious minorities.
Regarding the first research question and in the context of a dynamic constitutional interpretation that reflects evolving political and social demands, a fundamental right to the protection of the cross is derived from the Articles 3.1, 5.1, 13.1, 2, 14.3 and 24.1, 6 of the Constitution of Greece. Resolution of conflicts between this right and other fundamental freedoms demand ad hoc balancing criteria sought from theory and case law that may guide judges confronted with weighing and practical harmonization of opposing constitutional rights. Lastly, regarding the ongoing debate on the constitutionality of the display of religious symbols in classrooms and courtrooms, the answer to the question of whether a symbol represents the dominant religion (and consequently violates constitutional principles), requires an interpretation of its meaning as either confessional or secular. This thesis accepts that in the case of Greece, the presence of a non confessional symbolic meaning of the Christian cross is historically and culturally authentic due to the major role that Orthodox church played in the shaping and preservation of national identity.
Main subject category:
Law and Legislation
Other subject categories:
Public Law
Constitutional Law
Keywords:
religious symbols, legal protection, Christian cross
Number of references:
338
File:
File access is restricted only to the intranet of UoA.
12-3-2019-PhD.pdf
4 MB
File access is restricted only to the intranet of UoA.
