Poland, Spain and Slovakia come to different conclusions on “crucifix ban” decision

The recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights against the display of religious symbols in Italian schools has received very different reactions from some member states.

In Socialist Spain, a parliamentary commission approved last week by 20 votes to 16 a motion calling on Madrid to implement the ECHR ruling. The motion was submitted by the small left-wing Catalan ERC party and backed by the ruling Socialists among others, while the conservative opposition Popular Party voted against.

The Spanish government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is already at odds with the Catholic Church on such subjects as gay rights and liberalising abortion. In 2008 a court in the northern city of Valladolid ordered a state school to remove religious symbols from classrooms on a complaint from a parent, in line with the country's secular constitution.

Meanwhile in deeply Catholic Poland, legislators on Thursday took a swipe at the EHCR, saying they were “worried” by “decisions which infringe upon freedom of religion, disregard laws and the feelings of believers and upset social calm”.

The motion, which is not legally binding, was passed by a majority of 357 deputies against 40 opposed and five abstentions in Poland's 460-seat lower house. Polish legislators also called on other European parliaments to “reflect upon ways to protect freedom of belief”.

The Slovakian Parliament has also issued a statement declaring that the ECHR decision will be opposed there. It stated that the placing of religious symbols in schools and public institutions is “in line with the historical traditions of Slovakia. Respecting this tradition cannot be perceived as a restriction on the freedom of religion.” The Slovakian declaration asserts that the placing of religious symbols falls under the authority of individual EU countries.