ECHR to consider lawsuit against placement of icons in Greek courts

A courtroom in Greece. Photo: Greek City Times

On January 16, 2026, it became known that the European Court of Human Rights began considering a lawsuit related to the presence of icons in Greek courts. The reason for the proceedings was a complaint filed by representatives of the country's atheist community, reports Greek City Times.

The court notified Greek authorities of accepting the application for consideration, which means the beginning of the adversarial stage of the process. The complaint was filed after the applicants failed to achieve satisfaction of their demands in national courts. The atheists are challenging the placement of icons during court sessions, including in cases related to religion.

According to the applicants, the placement of icons undermines the principle of court impartiality, violates their right to a fair trial, as well as freedom of thought, conscience and religion. They insist that state institutions should be completely free from religious symbolism.

Previously, Greek courts rejected these arguments, pointing out that icons are part of the country's historical and cultural tradition and do not represent a form of religious pressure or coercion. Court decisions emphasized that their presence does not violate the fundamental rights of trial participants.

The international Christian legal organization ADF International also joined the proceedings in Strasbourg, acting as a third party. It reminded of the established practice of the ECHR, according to which states have broad discretion in matters of the presence of religious symbols in the public sphere, if they are connected with national history and identity.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the number of Christians in Europe decreased by 17 million over the past five years.

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