Lejla Šahin protiv Turske

Država na koju se presuda odnosi
Turska
Institucija
Evropski sud za ljudska prava
Broj predstavke
44774/98
Stepen važnosti
Referentni slučaj
Jezik
Srpski
Datum
10.11.2005
Članovi
8
8-1
9
9-1
9-2
10
10-1
14
14+9
P1-2
Kršenje
nije relevantno
Nekršenje
8
8-1
9
9-1
10
10-1
14+9
P1-2
Ključne reči po HUDOC/UN
(Čl. 8) Pravo na poštovanje privatnog i porodičnog života
(Čl. 8-1) Poštovanje privatnog života
(Čl. 9) Sloboda misli, savesti i veroispovesti
(Čl. 9-1) Ispovedanje vere ili ubeđenja
(Čl. 9-2) Mešanje
(Čl. 9-2) Neophodno u demokratskom društvu
(Čl. 9-2) Zaštita javnog reda
(Čl. 9-2) Zaštita prava i sloboda drugih
(Čl. 9-2) Propisano zakonom
(Čl. 9-2) Predvidljivost
(Čl. 10) Sloboda izražavanja - Opšta
(Čl. 10-1 / ICCPR-19) Sloboda izražavanja
(Čl. 14) Zabrana diskriminacije
(P1-2) Pravo na obrazovanje - opšte
(P1-2) Pravo na obrazovanje
Tematske ključne reči
VS deskriptori
Zbirke
Sudska praksa
Presuda ESLJP
Veliko veće
Sažetak
Postupak u ovom predmetu je pokrenut predstavkom protiv Republike Turske, koje je Evropskoj komisiji za ljudska prava podnela turska državljanka, gđica Lejla Šahin (podnositeljka predstavke), krajem jula 1998.godine. Predstavka je prvobitno dodeljena Veću, koje je donelo presudu. Podnositeljka predstavke je zatražila da predmet bude upućen Velikom veću, pa je Kolegijum Velikog veća odlučio da prihvati njen zahtev.
Podnositeljka je rođena 1973.godine i živi u Beču od 1999.godine, kada je otišla iz Istanbula da bi studirala medicinu na Medicinskom fakultetu Bečkog univerziteta. Potiče iz tradicionalne porodice muslimanskih vernika koji aktivno upražnjavaju veru i smatra svojom verskom dužnošću da nosi muslimansku maramu. Dok je bila na fakultet u Istambulu, prorektor Istambulskog univerziteta, krajem februara 1998.godine, uputio je cirkularno pismo kako onima koji nose marame na glavi nije dozvoljeno da prisustvuju predavanjima. Podnositeljka je sprečena da pristupi pisanom ispitu iz onkologije, obzirom da nosi maramu na glavi. Podnela je predlog za ukidanje ove naredbe, ali je Upravni sud odbacio ovaj predlog, smatrajući da prorektor, kao izvršni organ univerziteta, ima ovlašćenje da uređuje način odevanja studenata za potrebe održavanja reda. U maju 1998.g. pokrenut je disciplinski postupak protiv podnositeljke. Kasnije je dobila amnestiju i oslobođenje od svih izrečenih kazni. Vrhovni sud je, zbog donošenja zakona koji predviđa amnestiju, izrazio mišljenje da nema potrebe da razmatra žalbu podnositeljke.

NAVODNA POVREDA ČLANA 9 KONVENCIJE
- Pravo na slobodu misli, savesti i veroispovesti.
a. Da li je bilo mešanja – bilo je mešanja u pravo podnositeljke da ispoljava svoju veru.
b. Propisano zakonom – da li osporena mera ima osnov u domaćem pravu.
c. Legitimni cilj.
d. Neophodno u demokratskom društvu.
Nije bilo povrede člana 9 Konvencije (16:1). Uzimajući u obzir polje slobodne procene koje države potpisnice imaju u ovoj oblasti, Sud nalazi da je mešanje o kome je reč bilo u načelu opravdano i srazmerno cilju čijem se ostvarenju težilo.

NAVODNA POVREDA ČLANA 2 PROTOKOLA BR.1
- Niko ne može biti lišen prava na obrazovanje.
Pravo na obrazovanje utvrđeno je u prvoj rečenici člana 2 Protokola br.1 i garantuje svakom licu u nadležnosti država potpisnica „pravo na pristup obrazovnim institucijama koje postoje u datom trenutku“. Ovo pravo nije apsolutno i može podlegati ograničenjima. Takva ograničenja ne smeju biti u suprotnosti sa drugim pravima zajemčenih Konvencijom. Takođe, ovo pravo ne isključuje mogućnost da se pribegne disciplinskim merama, suspenzijama i sl.Nije bilo kršenja prvog stava člana 2 Protokola br.1 (16:1).

NAVODNA KRŠENJA ČLANOVA 8, 10 I 14 KONVENCIJE
Nije bilo kršenja ovih članova (jednoglasno).
- Izdvojena mišljenja.

Preuzmite presudu u pdf formatu

EVROPSKI SUD ZA LJUDSKA PRAVA 

VELIKO VEĆE

PREDMET LEJLA ŠAHIN protiv TURSKE

(Predstavka br. 44774/98)

PRESUDA

Strazbur

10. novembar 2005. godine

Ova presuda je konačna ali može biti predmet redakcijskih izmena.

U predmetu Lejla Šahin protiv Turske, Evropski sud za ljudska prava je, zasedajući u Velikom veću u čijem su sastavu bili:

L. VILDHABER (WILDHABER), Predsednik,
C.L. ROZAKIS (ROZAKIS),
J.-S. KOSTA (COSTA),
B. M. ZUPANČIČ,
R. TIRMEN (TÜRMEN),
gđa F. TULKENS (TULKENS),
g. C. BIRSAN (BÎRSAN),
K. JUNGVIRT (JUNGWIERT),
V. BUTKEVIČ (BUTKEVYCH),
gđa N. VAJIĆ,
M. UGREHELIDZE (UGREKHELIDZE),
gđa A. MULARONI (MULARONI),
J. BOREGO BOREGO (BORREGO BORREGO),
gđa E. FURA-SANDSTROM (FURA-SANDSTRÖM),
gđa A. ĐULUMJAN (GYULUMYAN),
g. E. MIJER (MYJER),
S. E. JEBENS (JEBENS), sudije,
i g T. L. ERLI (EARLY), zamenik sekretara Velikog veća,
pošto je razmotrio predmet na sednicama zatvorenim za javnost 18. maja i 5. oktobra 2005, izriče sledeću presudu, donetu poslednjeg navedenog datuma:

POSTUPAK

  1. Predmet je proistekao iz predstavke (br. 44774/98) protiv Republike Turske, koju je Evropskoj komisiji za ljudska prava (u daljem tekstu: Komisija) u skladu s nekadašnjim članom 25 Konvencije o zaštiti ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda (u daljem tekstu: Konvencija) podnela turska državljanka gđica Lejla Šahin (Leyla Şahin; u daljem tekstu: podnositeljka predstavke) 21. jula 1998. godine.
  2. podnositeljke predstavke zastupao je gospodin Manje (Magnée), član briselske Advokatske komore i gospodin Berzeg, član Advokatske komore Ankare. Tursku državu (u daljem tekstu: Država) zastupao je gospodin Ozmen (Özmen), kozastupnik.
  3. Podnositeljka predstavke je tvrdila da su njena prava i slobode prema članovima 8, 9, 10 i 14 Konvencije i članu 2 Protokola br. 1 bili prekršeni propisima o nošenju marame na glaviu ustanovama visokog obrazovanja.
  4. Predstavka je Sudu dostavljena 1. novembra 1998, kada je Protokol br. 11 uz Konvenciju stupio na snagu (čl. 5 st. 2 Protokola br. 11).
  5. Predstavka je dodeljena Četvrtom odeljenju Suda (pravilo 52 st. 1 Poslovnika Suda).
  6. Odlukom od 2. jula 2002, predstavka je proglašena prihvatljivom od strane veća tog odeljenja koje su sačinjavale sledeće sudije: ser Nikolas Braca, gospodin M. Pelonpa (Pellonpää), gospođa E. Palm (Palm), gospodin R. Tirmen (Türmen), gospodin M. Fišbah (Fischbach), gospodin J. Kazadeval (Casadevall) i gospodin S. Pavlovši (Pavlovschi) i gospodin M. O’Bojl (O’Boyle), sekretar odeljenja.
  7. Javna rasprava o meritumu slučaja (pravilo 54 st. 3) održana je u zgradi Suda u Strazburu 19. novembra 2002.
  8. U presudi od 29. juna 2004. (u daljem tekstu: presuda veća) veće je bilo jednoglasno u mišljenju da nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije zbog zabrane nošenja marame i da nije pokrenuto nijedno odvojeno pitanje prema članovima 8 i 10, članu 14 u vezi sa članom 9 Konvencije, i članu 2 Protokola br. 1.
  9. Podnositeljka predstavke je 27. septembra 2004. godine zatražila da predmet bude upućen Velikom veću (član 43 Konvencije).
  10. Kolegijum Velikog veća 10. novembra 2004. godine odlučio je da prihvati njen zahtev (pravilo 73).
  11. Sastav Velikog veća utvrđen je shodno članu 27, stavovi 2 i 3 Konvencije i pravilu 24.
  12. I podnositeljka predstavke i Država su svaki sa svoje strane uložili pisane komentare o meritumu.
  13. Javna rasprava je održana u zgradi Suda u Strazburu 18. maja 2005. godine (pravilo 59 st. 3).

Pred Sudom su se pojavili:

za Državu
g. M. Ozmen (Özmen), kozastupnik,
g E. Iškan (Ýþcan), advokat,
gđa A. Emuler (Emüler),
gđa G. Akiz (Akyüz),
gđa D. Kilisloglu (Kilislioðlu), savetnici;

za podnositeljke predstavke
g. X. Manje (Magnée),
g. K. Berzeg, advokati,

Sudu su se obratili g. Berzeg, g Ozmen i g. Manje.

ČINJENICE

I. OKOLNOSTI SLUČAJA

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je rođena 1973. godine i živi u Beču od 1999, kada je otišla iz Istanbula da bi studirala medicinu na Medicinskom fakultetu Bečkog univerziteta. Potiče iz tradicionalne porodice muslimanskih vernika koji aktivno upražnjavaju veru i smatra svojom verskom dužnošću da nosi muslimansku maramu.

A. Cirkularno pismo od 23. februara 1998. godine

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke se 26. avgusta 1997, kada je bila na petoj godini Medicinskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Bursi, upisala na Medicinski fakultet Ćerapaša (Cerrahpaşa) Univerziteta u Istambulu. Kaže da je nosila musimansku maramu tokom četiri godine koliko je provela studirajući medicinu na Univerzitetu u Bursi i to je nastavila da čini do februara 1998. godine.
  2. Prorektor Istanbulskog univerziteta uputio je 23. februara 1998, cirkularno pismo, u čijem relevantnom delu se navodi:

„Na osnovu Ustava, zakona i propisa, a u skladu sa sudskom praksom Vrhovnog upravnog suda i Evropske komisije za ljudska prava i zaključaka koje su usvojili administrativni odbori univerziteta, studentima čije su ‘glave pokrivene’ (koji nose muslimanske marame) i studentima (uključujući i studente iz inostranstva) s bradama nije dozvoljeno da prisustvuju predavanjima, kursevima ili konsultacijama. Shodno tome, ime i broj svakog studenta koji nosi bradu ili muslimansku maramu ne sme da bude stavljeno na spiskove registrovanih studenata. Međutim, studenti koji insistiraju na prisustvovanju konsultacijama i ulasku u slušaonice iako njihova imena i brojevi nisu na spiskovima moraju da budu obavešteni o ovom stavu i, ukoliko odbiju da se udalje, moraju se uzeti njihova imena i brojevi i oni moraju da budu obavešteni da nemaju pravo da pohađaju predavanja. Ukoliko oni odbiju da napuste slušaonicu, nastavnik je obavezan da evidentira takav incident u izveštaju kojim se objašnjava zašto nije bilo moguće održati predavanje i da upozna univerzitetske vlasti s tim incidentom po hitnom postupku tako da mogu da budu preduzete disciplinske mere.“

  1. U skladu s gorenavedenim cirkularnim pismom, podnositeljke predstavke su 12. marta 1998, dežurni nastavnici sprečili da pristupi pismenom ispitu iz onkologije zbog toga što je nosila muslimansku maramu. Sekretarijat katedre za ortopedsku traumatologiju 20. marta 1998. odbio je da joj dozvoli da se upiše jer je nosila maramu. Nije joj bilo dozvoljeno da uđe na predavanje iz neurologije 16. aprila 1998, a 10. juna 1998. godine na pismeni ispit iz zdravstvene zaštite stanovništva, iz istog razloga.

B. Predlog za donošenje naredbe o ukidanju cirkularnog pisma od 23. februara 1998. godine

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je 29. jula 1998. godine podnela predlog za donošenje naredbe o ukidanju cirkularnog pisma od 23. februara 1998. godine. U svojim pismenim podnescima, iznela je da su cirkularnim pismom i njegovom primenom prekršena njena prava garantovana članovima 8, 9 i 14 Konvencije i članom 2 Protokola br. 1, time što nije bilo nikakvog zakonskog osnova za cirkularno pismo i što kabinet prorektora nije imao nikakva regulatorna ovlašćenja u toj oblasti.
  2. U presudi od 19. marta 1999, Upravni sud u Istanbulu odbacio je predlog, smatrajući da na osnovu člana 13(b) Zakona o visokom obrazovanju (Zakon br. 2547 – videti dole stav 52) prorektor univerziteta, kao izvršni organ univerziteta, ima ovlašćenje da uređuje način odevanja studenata za potrebe održavanja reda. To regulatorno ovlašćenje mora da se vrši u skladu s relevantnim zakonodavstvom i presudama Ustavnog suda i Vrhovnog upravnog suda. Pozivajući se na rešene predmete iz sudske prakse ovih sudova, Upravni sud je smatrao da se ne mogu smatrati nezakonitim ni propisi koji su u pitanju, ni mere preduzete protiv podnositeljke predstavke.
  3. Vrhovni upravni sud je 19. aprila 2001. godine odbacio žalbu podnositeljke predstavke uloženu zbog navodne povrede materijalnog ili procesnog prava.

C. Disciplinske mere preduzete protiv podnositeljke predstavke

  1. Maja 1998. godine pokrenut je disciplinski postupak protiv podnositeljke predstavke prema članu 6(a) Pravilnika o disciplinskom postupku za studente (vidi dole stav 50) zbog toga što nije poštovala pravila o načinu odevanja.
  2. S obzirom na to da je podnositeljka predstavke svojim radnjama pokazala da namerava da nastavi da nosi maramu na predavanjima i/ili konsultacijama, dekan fakulteta je 26. maja 1998. godine izjavio da njen stav i nepoštovanje pravila o načinu odevanja ne priliče jednom studentu. Stoga je on odlučio da joj izrekne opomenu.
  3. Neodobreni protestni skup protiv pravila o načinu odevanja održan je 15. februara 1999. godine ispred dekanata Medicinskog fakulteta Ćerapaša.
  4. Dekan fakulteta je 26. februara 1999. pokrenuo disciplinske postupke protiv više studenata, uključujući i podnositeljke predstavke, zbog učešća u protestnom okupljanju. Nakon što je saslušao njene izjave 13. aprila 1999, suspendovao ju je s univerziteta u trajanju od jednog semestra prema članu 9(j) Pravilnika o disciplinskom postupku za studente (vidi dole stav 50).
  5. Podnositeljka predstavke je 10. juna 1999. uputila predlog Upravnom sudu u Istanbulu za izdavanje naredbe o poništavanju odluke o njenoj suspenziji. Upravni sud u Istanbulu odbacio je predlog 30. novembra 1999, s obrazloženjem da, u svetlu materijala u spisima predmeta i rešenih predmeta iz ove materije koji su ušli u sudsku praksu, osporena mera ne može da se smatra nezakonitom.
  6. Nakon stupanja na snagu Zakona br. 4584 28. juna 2000. godine (koji je predviđao davanje amnestije studentima od kazni izrečenihh zbog disciplinskih prekršaja i poništavanje bilo koje posledične diskvalifikacije) podnositeljka predstavke dobila je amnestiju kojom je oslobođena svih kazni koje su joj izrečene i posledičnih diskvalifikacija.
  7. Vrhovni upravni sud je 28. septembra 2000. doneo odluku u kojoj je izrazio mišljenje da je donošenje Zakona br. 4584 učinilo nepotrebnim razmatranje suštine žalbe podnositeljke predstavke na presudu od 30. novembra 1999, uložene zbog navodne povrede materijalnog ili procesnog prava.
  8. U međuvremenu, 16. septembra 1999, podnositeljka predstavke prekinula je svoje studije u Turskoj i upisala se na Bečki univerzitet, gde je nastavila svoje univerzitetsko obrazovanje.

II. RELEVANTNO PRAVO I PRAKSA

A. Ustav

  1. Relevantne odredbe Ustava predviđaju:

Član 2

„Republika Turska je demokratska, sekularna (laička) i socijalna država zasnovana na vladavini prava, koja poštuje ljudska prava u duhu socijalnog mira, nacionalne solidarnosti i pravde, privržena je Ataturkovom nacionalizmu i utemeljena na osnovnim načelima navedenim u Preambuli.“

Član 4

„Nikakav amandman ne može da bude stavljen ili predložen na odredbe člana 1 Ustava kojim je utvrđeno da je država Republika, odredbe člana 2 koje se odnose na karakteristike Republike ili odredbe člana 3“

Član 10

„Svi su jednaki pred zakonom bez ikakve razlike po osnovu jezika, rase, boje, pola, političkog mišljenja, filozofskog uverenja, vere, pripadnosti verskoj sekti ili iz nekog drugog sličnog razloga.
Muškarci i žene imaju jednaka prava. Država preduzima radnje radi ostvarivanja te jednakosti u praksi.
Nijednom pojedincu, porodici, grupi ili klasi neće biti date nikakve povlastice.
Državna tela i upravni organi postupaju u skladu s načelom jednakosti pred zakonom u svim okolnostima...“

Član 13

„Osnovna prava i slobode mogu se ograničti samo zakonom i iz razloga utvrđenih posebnim odredbama Ustava, pri čemu suština takvih prava i sloboda uvek moraju ostati netaknuti. Bilo koje takvo ograničenje ne sme da bude u sukobu sa slovom ili duhom Ustava ili zahteva demokratskog, sekularnog socijalnog poretka i moraju da poštuju načelo srazmernosti.“

Član 14

„Prava i slobode utvrđene Ustavom ne mogu da budu ostvarivane s ciljem podrivanja teritorijalnog integriteta države, jedinstva nacije ili demokratske i sekularne Republike utemeljene na ljudskim pravima.
Nijedna odredba ovog Ustava ne sme da se tumači na način koji bi državi ili pojedincima dao pravo da se bave aktivnostima koje imaju za cilj da unište osnovna prava i slobode sadržane u Ustavu ili da ih ograniče u meri većoj od one dozvoljene Ustavom.
Kazne kojima podležu lica koja se bave aktivnostima koje su u suprotnosti s ovim odredbama utvrđuju se zakonom.“

Član 24

„Svako ima pravo na slobodu savesti, uverenja i verskih ubeđenja.
Molitve, ispovedanje vere i bogosluženja obavljanju se slobodno, pod uslovom da se njima ne krše odredbe člana 14.
Niko ne sme biti primoran da učestvuje u molitvama, ispovedanju vere ili bogosluženjiima ili da otkriva svoja verska uverenja i ubeđenja; niko ne sme biti cenzurisan ili krivično gonjen zbog svojih verskih uverenja ili ubeđenja.
Obrazovanje i veronauka i etika pružaju se pod nadzorom i kontrolom države. Nastava iz verske kulture i morala je obavezan deo nastavnih planova i programa u osnovnim i srednjim školama. Drugo versko obrazovanje i nastava su stvar ličnog izbora pojedinca, pri čemu odluku u slučaju maloletnih lica donose njihovi zakonski staratelji.
Niko ne sme da koristi ili zloupotrebljava veru, verska osećanja ili stvari koje vera smatra svetim na bilo koji način s ciljem da dovede do toga da socijalni, privredni, politički ili pravni poredak države bude zasnovan na verskim propisima, makar samo delimično, ili radi obezbeđivanja političkog ili ličnog interesa ili uticaja na taj način.“

Član 42

„Niko ne može da bude lišen prava na nastavu i obrazovanje.
Obuhvat prava na obrazovanje definiše se i reguliše zakonom.
Nastava i predavanja obezbeđuju se pod nadzorom i kontrolom države u skladu s Ataturkovim načelima i reformama i savremenim naučnim i obrazovnim metodama. Nijedna obrazovna ili nastavna institucija ne može da bude osnovana ukoliko ne primenjuje ova pravila.
Sloboda nastave i predavanja ne razrešava građane dužnosti da ostanu lojalni Ustavu.
Osnovno obrazovanje je obavezno za sve građane oba pola i obezbeđuje se besplatno u državnim školama.
Pravila kojima je uređeno funkcionisanje privatnih osnovnih i srednjih škola utvrđuju se zakonom u skladu sa standardima postavljenim za državne škole.
Država će sposobnim učenicima s ograničenim finansijskim sredstvima obezbediti neophodnu pomoć u vidu stipendija ili druge pomoći kako bi im omogućila da nastave sa školovanjem. Preduzeće odgovarajuće mere da rehabilituje one kojima je potrebna posebna obuka kako bi ih učinila korisnim članovima društva.
Obrazovanje, predavanje, istraživanja i studije su jedine aktivnosti koje se mogu obavljati u obrazovnim i nastavnim institucijama. Ove aktivnosti neće biti ometane ni na koji način...“

Član 153

„Odluke Ustavnog suda su konačne. Odluka da neka odredba prestane da važi se ne objavljuje bez pisane izjave o razlozima za to.
Pri ukidanju nekog zakona ili odluke sa snagom zakona ili neke njihove odredbe, Ustavni sud ne može da deluje kao kvazi-zakonodavno telo tako što će formulisati odredbe koje bi bile izvršne.
...
Presude Ustavnog suda odmah se objavljuju u Službenom glasniku i obavezujuće su za zakonodavne, izvršne i pravosudne organe, upravne vlasti i fizička i pravna lica.“

B. Istorija i opšte informacije

1. Verska odeća i načelo sekularizma

  1. Turska Republika utemeljena je na načelu da država treba da bude sekularna (laička). Pre i posle proglašenja Republike 29. oktobra 1923, javna sfera je odvojena od verske kroz niz revolucionarnih reformi: ukidanjem kalifata 3. marta 1923. godine; ukidanjem ustavne odredbe kojom se islam proglašava državnom religijom 10 aprila 1928. godine; i, na kraju, 5. februara 1937. godine ustavnim amandmanom kojim se načelu sekularizma dodeljuje ustavni status (vidi član 2 Ustava iz 1924. i član 2 Ustava iz 1961. i 1982, kako je navedeno u gornjem stavu 29).
  2. Načelo sekularizma inspirisano je događajima u turskom društvu u periodu između devetnaestog veka i proglašenja Republike. Ideja o stvaranju jednog modernog otvorenog društva u kome se jednakost garantuje svim građanima bez pravljenja ikakve razlike po osnovu vere, veroispovesti ili pola već je bila pokrenuta u raspravama u Turskoj u devetnaestom veku. Tokom ovog perioda učinjeni su značajni pomaci kad su u pitanju prava žena (jednakost u tretmanu u oblasti obrazovanja, uvođenje zabrane poligamije 1914, prenošenje nadležnosti u bračnim predmetima na sekularne sudove koji su osnovani u devetnaestom veku).
  3. Ono što je bilo karakteristika koja određuje ideal Republike bilo je prisustvo žena u javnom životu i njihovo aktivno učešće u društvu. Shodno tome, ideje da žene treba da budu oslobođene verskih stega i da društvo treba da bude modernizovano imaju zajedničko poreklo. Tako je 17. februara 1926. godine usvojen Građanski zakonik, kojim je bila predviđena ravnopravnost polova u uživanju građanskih prava, naročito u pogledu razvoda i nasleđivanja. Kasnije, ustavnim amandmanom od 5. decembra 1934. godine (član 10 Ustava iz 1924), žene su dobile jednaka politička prava kao i muškarci.
  4. Prvi zakonodavni akt kojim se regulisao način odevanja bio je Zakon o odevnim predmetima kojima se pokriva glava od 28. novembra 1925. godine (Zakon br. 671), koji je tretirao način odevanja kao pitanje modernog stila. Takođe, uvedena je zabrana nošenja verske odeće izvan bogomolja ili verskih ceremonija, bez obzira na veru ili verovanje o kome je reč, Zakonom o (propisima o) odevanju od 3. decembra 1934. godine (Zakon br. 2596).
  5. Prema Zakonu o uslugama u obrazovanju (njihovom objedinjavanju) od 3. marta 1924. godine (Zakon br. 430), verske škole su zatvorene i sve škole su stavljene pod kontrolu Ministarstva za obrazovanje. Ovaj zakon je jedan od zakona koji imaju ustavni status i koji su zaštićeni članom 174 turskog Ustava.
  6. Nošenje muslimanske marame u školi i na univerzitetu u Turskoj je pojava novijeg datuma, koja je zapravo počela da se javlja tek osamdesetih godina prošlog veka. Vođena je i vodi se široka diskusija o ovom pitanju i ono je i dalje predmet žive rasprave u turskom društvu. Oni koji su za maramu vide njeno nošenje kao dužnost i/ili oblik izražavanja vezan za verski identitet. Međutim, pristalice sekularizma, koji prave razliku između tradicionalne anadolijske marame, koja se nosi slobodno prebačena (başörtüsü) i marame čvrsto obmotane oko glave, koja krije kosu i vrat (türban), vide muslimansku maramu kao simbol političkog islama. Kao posledica dolaska na vlast koalicione vlade 28. juna 1996, sastavljene od islamističke partije Refah Partisi i partije desnog centra Doðru Yol Partisi, ova rasprava poprimila je snažne političke prizvuke. Ambivalentnost koju su pokazale vođe Refah Partisi, uključujući i tadašnjeg premijera, u vezi s njihovom privrženošću demokratskim vrednostima i njihovo zastupanje pluraliteta pravnih sistema koji funkcionišu prema različitim verskim pravilima za svaku versku zajednicu shvaćena je u turskom društvu kao stvarna pretnja republikanskim vrednostima i građanskom miru (vidi Refah Partisi (the Welfare Party) and Others v. Tursk [GC], br. 41340/98, 41342/98, 41343/98 i 41344/98, ECHR 2003-II).

2. Pravila o načinu odevanja u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja i sudska praksa Ustavnog suda

  1. Prvi zakonski akt o načinu odevanja u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja bio je paket propisa koje je donela Vlada 22. jula 1981, kojim se od zaposlenih u javnim organizacijama i institucijama i osoblja i studentkinja u državnim institucijama tražilo da nose običnu, neupadljivu, modernu odeću. Propisima je takođe bilo predviđeno da zaposleni ženskog pola i studenkinje ne nose veo u obrazovnim institucijama.
  2. Uprava za visoko obrazovanje je 20. decembra 1982. objavila cirkularno pismo o nošenju marama u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja. Muslimanska marama zabranjena je u slušaonicama. U presudi od 13. decembra 1984. Vrhovni upravni sud smatrao je da su ovi propisi zakoniti, konstatujući da:

„Osim što je samo jedan bezazlen običaj, nošenje marame postepeno postaje simbol vizije koja je suprotna slobodama žena i osnovnim načelima Republike.“

  1. Prelazni član 16 Zakona o visokom obrazovanju (Zakon br. 2547 – „Zakon o visokom obrazovanju“) je stupio na snagu 10. decembra 1988. U njemu se navodi:

„Moderno odevanje ili izgled su obavezni u salama i hodnicima institucija visokog obrazovanja, pripremnim školama, laboratorijama, klinikama i poliklinikama. Veo ili marama koja pokriva vrat i kosu mogu da se nose iz verskog ubeđenja.“

  1. U presudi od 7. marta 1989. godine objavljenoj u Službenom glasniku od 5. jula 1989. Ustavni sud smatrao je da je gore navedena odredba u suprotnosti sa članovima 2 (sekularizam), 10 (jednakost pred zakonom) i 24 (sloboda veroispovesti) Ustava. Takođe je ustanovio da ona ne može da bude usklađena s načelom ravnopravnosti polova implicitno sadržanom, između ostalog, i u republikanskim i revolucionarnim vrednostima (vidi Ustav – Preambula i član 174). U svojoj presudi, sudije Ustavnog suda su objasnile, prvo, da je sekularizam stekao ustavni status zbog istorijskog iskustva zemlje i specifičnosti islama u poređenju s drugim verama; sekularizam je bio suštinski uslov za demokratiju i delovao je kao garant slobode veroispovesti i jednakosti pred zakonom. On je takođe sprečavao državu da određenoj religiji ili uverenju daje prvenstvo; shodno tome, sekularna država ne bi mogla da se poziva na verska ubeđenja pri vršenju svoje zakonodavne funkcije. Oni su naveli, između ostalog:

„Sekularizam je građanski organizator političkog, društvenog i kulturnog života, na osnovama nacionalnog suvereniteta, demokratije, slobode i nauke. Sekularizam je načelo koje pruža mogućnost pojedincu da afirmiše svoju ličnost kroz slobodu mišljenja i koje, pravljenjem razlike između politike i verskih uverenja, čini slobodu savesti i veroispovesti delotvornom. U društvima zasnovanim na veri, koja funkcionišu uz religiozno mišljenje i verska pravila, političko organizovanje je versko po karakteru. U sekularnom režimu, vera je zaštićena od političke uloge. Ona nije sredstvo vlasti i ostaje na svom uvaženom mestu, koje će svako odrediti po svojoj sopstvenoj savesti...“

Naglašavajući njenu nepovredivost, Ustavni sud je konstatovao da sloboda veroispovesti, savesti i veroispovedanja, koja ne može da bude izjednačena s pravom da se nosi bilo koja posebna verska odežda, garantuje pre svega slobodu odlučivanja o tome da li će neko prihvatiti veru ili ne. On je objasnio da, kad se izađe iz privatne sfere svesti pojedinca, sloboda ispoljavanja vere može da bude ograničena zbog razloga vezanih za javni red, da bi se odbranilo načelo sekularizma.

Svako je slobodan da odlučuje o tome kako će se odevati, pošto društvene i verske vrednosti i tradicije društva takođe treba da se poštuju. Međutim, kada bi se pojedincima nametao određeni način odevanja pozivanjem na veru, vera koja je u pitanju bila bi doživljena i predstavljena kao skup vrednosti koje nisu u saglasnosti s vrednostima savremenog društva. Pored toga, u Turskoj, gde su većina stanovnika muslimani, predstavljanje nošenja muslimanske marame kao obavezne verske dužnosti imalo bi za posledicu diskriminaciju po osnovu odevanja između muslimana aktivnih vernika, muslimana koji nisu aktivni vernici i neverujućih, pri čemu bi svako onaj ko odbije da nosi maramu bio bez sumnje smatran za nekog ko je protiv vere ili ko nije vernik.

Ustavni sud je takođe naveo da studentima mora da bude dozvoljeno da rade i obrazuju se zajedno u mirnoj, tolerantnoj atmosferi uzajamne podrške pri čemu obeležja verske pripadnosti ne treba da ih udaljavaju od ostvarenja tog cilja. On je ustanovio da, bez obzira da li je muslimanska marama propis u islamu, davanje pravnog priznanja nekom verskom simbolu te vrste u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja nije kompatibilno s načelom da državno obrazovanje mora da bude neutralno, jer bi po svoj prilici izazivalo sukobe između studenata koji imaju različita verska ubeđenja ili uverenja.

  1. Prelazni član 17 Zakona br. 2547 stupio je na snagu 25. oktobra 1990. Njime se utvrđuje da:

„Izbor načina odevanja je slobodan u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja, pod uslovom da nije u suprotnosti s važećim zakonima.“

  1. U presudi od 9. aprila 1991, koja je objavljena u Službenom glasniku od 31. jula 1991, Ustavni sud je konstatovao da, u svetlu načela koja je ustanovio u svojoj presudi od 7. marta 1989, gorenavedenom odredbom nije dozvoljeno nošenje marama u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja iz verskih razloga i to je bilo u skladu s Ustavom. On je, između ostalog, naveo:

„... izraz ‘važeći zakoni’ odnosi se pre svega na Ustav... U ustanovama visokog obrazovanja, u suprotnosti je s načelima sekularizma i jednakosti da vrat i kosa budu pokriveni velom ili maramom iz razloga vezanih za versko ubeđenje. U ovim okolnostima, sloboda izbora načina odevanja koja se osporenom odredbom dozvoljava u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja ‘se ne odnosi na način odevanja verske prirode ili čin pokrivanja vrata i kose velom i maramom’... Sloboda data ovom odredbom [prelazni član 17] je uslovljena time da ne sme da bude u suprotnosti s ‘važećim zakonima’. Presudom [od 7. marta 1989. godine] Ustavnog suda utvrđuje se da je pokrivanje vrata i kose maramom u suprotnosti pre svega s Ustavom. Shodno tome, uslovom navedenim u gorepomenutom članu kojim se zahteva da [izbor načina] odevanja ne bude u suprotnosti s važećim zakonima otklanja se čin ‘pokrivanja vrata i kose velom i maramom’ iz obuhvata slobode izbora načina odevanja...“

3. Primena propisa na Univerzitetu u Istanbulu

  1. Univerzitet u Istanbulu osnovan je u XV veku i jedan je od glavnih centara državnog visokog obrazovanja u Turskoj. Ima sedamnaest fakulteta (uključujući i dva medicinska fakulteta – Cerapaša i Capa (Çapa)) i dvanaest viših škola. Pohađa ga oko 50.000 studenata.
  2. Nakon kampanje slanja peticija koju su pokrenule studentkinje upisane na kurs akušerstva na Univerzitetskoj medicinskoj školi, 1994. godine prorektor je uputio cirkularni memorandum u kome je objasnio pozadinu pitanja nošenja muslimanske marame i pravni osnov za relevantne propise, posebno konstatujući:

„Nije bila namera da se zabranom kojom se studentkinjama upisanim na kurs akušerstva brani da nose marame za vreme konsultacija krši njihova sloboda savesti i veroispovesti, već da se poštuju zakoni i propisi koji su na snazi. Kada obavljaju svoj posao, babice i medicinske sestre nose uniformu. Ta uniforma je opisana i određena propisima koje donosi Ministarstvo zdravlja... Studenti koji žele da se bave ovim zanimanjem su upoznati s ovim. Zamislite studenta akušerstva kako pokušava da stavi bebu u inkubator ili da je uzme iz istog, ili kako asistira doktoru u operacionoj sali ili porodilištu noseći ogrtač s dugim rukavima.“

  1. Prorektor je bio zabrinut zbog mogućnosti da kampanja za dozvolu da se nosi muslimanska marama u svim prostorijama univerziteta dostigne tačku kada se javlja rizik da zbog toga dođe do narušavanja reda i izazivanja nemira na Univerzitetu, Fakultetu, Bolnici Ćerapaša i Višoj medicinskoj školi. Pozvao je studente da poštuju pravila o načinu oblačenja, podsećajući ih naročito na prava pacijenata.
  2. Izvršni organ Univerziteta usvojio je zaključak o pravilima odevanja za studente i osoblje univerziteta 1. juna 1994. kojim se predviđa:

„Pravila kojima se uređuje način odevanja na univerzitetima utvrđena su zakonima i propisima. Ustavni sud doneo je presudu kojom se sprečava nošenje verske odežde na univerzitetima.
Ova presuda odnosi se na sve studente našeg Univerziteta i akademsko osoblje, kako administrativno tako i drugo, na svim nivoima. Konkretno, medicinske sestre, babice, doktori i veterinari su obavezni da poštuju propise o načinu odevanja koje nalažu naučni razlozi i zakonodavstvo, za vreme konsultacija iz zdravstva i primenjene nauke (nega bolesnika, rad u laboratoriji, hirurgija i mikrobiologija). Svakom ko ne bude poštovao pravila biće uskraćen prisustup konsultacijama.“

  1. Cirkularno pismo koje je potpisao prorektor Univerziteta u Istanbulu, a u kome su bila uputstva o ulasku studenata koji nose brade ili muslimanske marame (tekst ovog cirkularnog pisma može se naći gore u stavu 16) distribuirano je 23. februara 1998. godine.
  2. Univerzitet je usvojio rezoluciju (br. 11 od 9. jula 1998. godine), koja je formulisana kako sledi:

„1. Studenti Univerziteta u Istanbulu poštuju pravna načela i pravila o načinu odevanja sadržana u odlukama Ustavnog suda i viših pravosudnih organa.
2.Studenti ne smeju da nose odeću koja simbolizuje ili ispoljava bilo koju veru, verovanje, rasu ili političko ili ideološko ubeđenje u bilo kojoj ustanovi ili na bilo kom odseku univerziteta, ili u bilo kojoj njegovoj prostoriji.
3.Studenti poštuju pravila kojima se zahteva nošenje posebne odeće iz profesionalnih razloga u ustanovama i na odsecima gde su upisani.
4.Fotografije koje studenti dostavljaju svojim ustanovama ili odsecima [moraju da budu načinjene] en face ‘pri čemu su glava i vrat otkriveni’. Ne smeju biti starije od šest meseci i moraju biti takve da je studenta moguće odmah identifikovati.
5. Svako ko ispoljava stav koji je suprotan gorenavedenom ili ko, svojim rečima, pisanjem ili delima, podstiče takav stav podleže postupku u skladu s Pravilnikom o disciplinskom postupku za studente.“

4. Pravilnik o disciplinskom postupku za studente

  1. Pravilnikom o disciplinskom postupku za studente, koji je objavljen u Službenom glasniku od 13. januara 1985, propisano je pet vrsta disciplinske kazne: opomena, ukor, privremena suspenzija u trajanju od jedne nedelje do mesec dana, privremena suspenzija u trajanju od jednog ili dva semestra i isključivanje.
  2. Samo nošenje muslimanske marame u prostorijama univerziteta ne predstavlja disciplinski prekršaj.
  3. Na temelju stava 6(a) Pravilnika, student čije „ponašanje i stav ne dolikuju jednom studentu“ podleže izricanju upozorenja. Ukor će se dati, između ostalog, studentima čije vladanje je takvo da oni gube poštovanje i poverenje koje studenti moraju da ulivaju ili koji remete održavanje predavanja, seminara, konsultacija u laboratorijama ili radionicama (stav 7 (a) i (e)). Studenti koji neposredno ili posredno ograničavaju slobodu drugih da uče i podučavaju ili čije ponašanje će po svoj prilici poremetiti spokoj, mir i marljivost koja je potrebna u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja ili koji se angažuju u političkim aktivnostima u tim ustanovama podležu privremenoj suspenziji u trajanju od nedelju do mesec dana (stav 8 (a) i (c)). Stavom 9 (j) predviđeno je da studenti koji organizuju ili učestvuju u neodobrenim sastancima u univerzitetskim prostorijama podležu suspenziji u toku jednog ili dva semestra.
  4. Postupak za razmatranje disciplinskih tužbi uređen je stavovima 13 do 34 Pravilnika. Stavovima 16 i 33 predviđeno je da se prava studenata na odbranu moraju poštovati i da disciplinska komisija mora da uzme u obzir razloge koji su naveli studenta da prekrši pravila. Sve disciplinske mere podležu sudskom preispitivanju u upravnim sudovima.

5. Regulatorna ovlašćenja univerzitetskih vlasti

  1. Pošto su univerziteti tela po javnom pravu na osnovu člana 130 Ustava, kao takvi uživaju određeni stepen autonomije, uz državnu kontrolu, što se odražava u činjenici da njih vode upravljački organi, kao što je prorektor, s prenetim zakonskim ovlašćenjima. U relevantnim delovima člana 13 Zakona br. 2547 navodi se:

„... (b) Prorektori imaju sledeća ovlašćenja, nadležnosti i odgovornosti:
1. Da predsedavaju sastancima univerzitetskih odbora, sprovode njihove zaključke, razmatraju predloge univerzitetskih odbora i donose one odluke koje su neophodne, i staraju se da ustanove koje čine deo univerziteta funkcionišu na koordiniran način;
...
5. Da nadziru i prate univerzitetske odseke i univerzitetsko osoblje na svim nivoima.
Prorektor je onaj ko ima glavnu odgovornost za preduzimanje bezbednosnih mera i za nadzor i praćenje administrativnih i naučnih aspekata funkcionisanja univerziteta...“

  1. Ovlašćenja u vezi s praćenjem i nadzorom dodeljena prorektoru shodno članu 13 Zakona br. 2547 podležu zahtevu zakonitosti i proveri od strane upravnih sudova.

C. Obavezujuća snaga obrazloženja u presudama Ustavnog suda

  1. U presudi od 27. maja 1999. godine (E. 1998/58, K. 1999/19), koja je objavljena u Službenom glasniku od 4. marta 2000, Ustavni sud je, između ostalog, naveo:

„Parlament i Vlada su obavezani kako dispozitivima presuda tako i obrazloženjem u celini. Presude i razlozi navedeni u njima postavljaju standarde po kojima će se meriti zakonodavna aktivnost i utvrđivati smernice za takvu aktivnost.“

D. Uporedno pravo

  1. Već više od dvadeset godina mesto muslimanske marame u državnom obrazovanju je predmet rasprava širom Evrope. U većini evropskih zemalja, ova rasprava je usredsređena uglavnom na osnovne i srednje škole. Međutim, u Turskoj, Azerbejdžanu i Albaniji ona se odnosila ne samo na pitanje individualne slobode, već i na političko značenje muslimanske marame. To su jedine države članice koje su uvele propise o nošenju muslimanske marame na univerzitetima.
  2. U Francuskoj, gde se sekularizam smatra jednim od kamena temeljaca republikanskih vrednosti, 15. marta 2004. godine donet je zakon kojim se reguliše, u skladu s načelom sekularizma, nošenje obeležja ili odeće kojom se ispoljava verska pripadnost u državnim osnovnim i srednjim školama. Zakonodavac je uneo novi član L. 141–5–1 u Zakonik o obrazovanju kojim se predviđa sledeće: „U državnim osnovnim i srednjim školama, nošenje obeležja ili odeće kojom učenici otvoreno ispoljavaju versku pripadnost je zabranjeno. Školskim pravilnicima se utvrđuje da će pokretanju disciplinskog postupka prethoditi razgovor s učenikom“. Zakon važi za sve državne škole i obrazovne ustanove, uključujući i pripremnu nastavu za upis na grandes écoles[1] i kurseve stručnog obrazovanja. Ne važi za državne univerzitete. Pored toga, kako se jasno kaže u cirkularnom pismu od 18. maja 2004. on se odnosi samo na „...obeležja..., kao što je muslimanska marama, kako god se zvala, jevrejska kapica-kipa ili krst preterane veličine, na osnovu kojih je moguće odmah odrediti versku pripadnost onoga ko ih nosi“.
  3. U Belgiji nema opšte zabrane nošenja verskih obeležja u školama. U francuskoj zajednici uredbom od 13. marta 1994. godine navodi se da je obrazovanje neutralno u okviru te zajednice. Učenicima je u načelu dozvoljeno da nose verska obeležja. Međutim, oni to mogu da čine samo ako su ljudska prava, ugled drugih ljudi, nacionalna bezbednost, javni red i javno zdravlje i moral zaštićeni i ako je to u skladu s internim pravilima. Nadalje, nastavnici ne smeju da dozvole verski ili filozofski prozelitizam u sferi njihove nadležnosti ili organizovanje zasnovano na političkoj militantnosti od strane ili u ime učenika. Uredbom se predviđa da se mogu uvesti ograničenja školskim pravilnicima. Francuska zajednica je 19. maja 2004. godine izdala uredbu u cilju uspostavljanja jednakosti postupanja. Flamanska zajednica, ne propisuje jedinstvenu politiku među školama o tome da li treba dozvoliti nošenje obeležja određene vere ili filozofije. Neke dozvoljavaju, a neke ne. Kada je učenicima dozvoljeno da nose takva obeležje, moguće je uvesti ograničenja iz razloga vezanih za higijenu ili bezbednost.
  4. U drugim zemljama (Austriji, Nemačkoj, Holandiji, Španiji, Švedskoj, Švajcarskoj i Velikoj Britaniji) u nekim slučajevima nakon dugotrajne pravne rasprave, državne obrazovne vlasti dozvoljavaju učenicima i studentima muslimanima da nose muslimanske marame.
  5. U Nemačkoj, gde je rasprava bila usredsređena na to da li nastavnicima treba da bude dozvoljeno da nose muslimansku maramu, Ustavni sud naveo je 24. septembra 2003. godine u predmetu između jedne nastavnice i Pokrajine Baden-Virtemberg (Land of Baden-Württemberg) da nepostojanje izričite zakonske zabrane znači da nastavnici imaju pravo da nose maramu. Shodno tome, on je uveo obavezu za pokrajine (Länder)da donesu pravilnike o načinu odevanja ako žele da zabrane nošenje muslimanske marame u državnim školama.
  6. U Austriji ne postoji posebno zakonodavstvo kojim se uređuje nošenje marame, turbana ili kipe. U načelu, smatra se da će zabrana nošenja marame biti opravdana samo ako to predstavlja opasnost po zdravlje ili sigurnost učenika.
  7. U Velikoj Britaniji stav prema učenicima koji nose verska obeležja je tolerantan. Teškoće vezane za muslimansku maramu su retke. O ovom pitanju se takođe raspravljalo u kontekstu uklanjanja rasne diskriminacije u školama kako bi se očuvao njihov multikulturalni karakter (vidi, naročito, Mandla v. Dowell, ‘The Law Reports’1983, 548–570). Komisija za rasnu ravnopravnost, čija mišljenja imaju samo status preporuke, takođe je razmatrala pitanje muslimanske marame 1988. godine u slučaju gimnazije Altrincham Grammar School, koji se završio kompromisom između privatne škole i članova porodice dve sestre koje su želele da im se dozvoli da nose muslimanske marame u školi. Škola se složila da im dozvoli da nose marame, pod uslovom da budu mornarsko plave boje (boja školske uniforme), vezane na vratu i bez ukrasa. U predmetu R (On the application of Begum) v. Headteacher and Governors of Denbigh High School [2004], Visoki sud morao je da odluči u sporu između ove škole i učenice muslimanke koja je želela da nosi jilbab (odora do zemlje). Škola je od učenika zahtevala da nose uniforme, pri čemu je jedna od mogućih opcija bila marama i šalvare s dugom tunikom kameeze (duga tradicionalna odeća s indijskog potkontinenta). U junu 2004. godine Visoki sud odbacio je tužbu učenice, smatrajući da nije bilo nikakvog kršenja njene slobode veroispovesti. Međutim, tu presudu je u martu 2005. godine ukinuo Apelacioni sud, koji je prihvatio da je bilo mešanja u slobodu veroispovesti učenice, pošto je manjina muslimana u Velikoj Britaniji smatrala da je postojala verska obaveza nošenja jilbaba od puberteta i učenica je iskreno imala takvo mišljenje. Školske vlasti nisu dale nikakvo opravdanje za ovakvo mešanje, pošto proces odlučivanja nije bio kompatibilan sa slobodom veroispovesti.
  8. U Španiji nema izričite zakonske zabrane za učenike da u državnim školama nose verske odevne predmete koji pokrivaju glavu. Na osnovu dva kraljevska dekreta od 26. januara 1996, koja važe u osnovnim i srednjim školama osim ako nadležni organ – autonomna zajednica – nije uvela posebne mere, članovi školske uprave imaju ovlašćenje da donesu školski pravilnik koji može da sadrži i odredbe o načinu odevanja. Uopšteno govoreći, državne škole dozvoljavaju da se nosi marama.
  9. U Finskoj i Švedskoj može da se nosi veo u školi. Međutim, pravi se razlika između burke (izraz koji se koristi da se opiše pun veo koji pokriva celo telo i lice) i niqab (veo koji pokriva ceo gornji deo tela s izuzetkom očiju). U Švedskoj je 2003. godine Nacionalna agencija za obrazovanje donela obavezna uputstva. Prema njima je školama dozvoljeno da zabrane burku i niqab, pod uslovom da to čine u duhu dijaloga o zajedničkim vrednostima ravnopravnosti polova i poštovanja demokratskog načela na kome je utemeljen sistem obrazovanja.
  10. U Holandiji, gde se pitanje muslimanske marame razmatra sa stanovišta diskriminacije pre nego sa stanovišta slobode veroispovesti, ona se u načelu toleriše. Neobavezujuće uputstvo je doneto 2003. i predviđa da škole mogu da zahtevaju da učenici nose uniformu pod uslovom da pravilnik nije diskriminatoran i da je uvršćen u informator škole i da kazne za njegovo kršenje nisu nesrazmerene. Zabrana burke smatra se opravdanom zbog potrebe da se bude u mogućnosti da se učenici identifikuju i da se s njima komunicira. Pored toga, Komisija za ravnopravno postupanje donela je odluku 1997. godine da zabrana nošenja vela tokom opštih časova iz bezbednosnih razloga nije diskriminatorna.
  11. U više drugih zemalja (Češka, Grčka, Mađarska, Poljska ili Slovačka) čini se da pitanje muslimanske marame još uvek nije dovelo do pokretanja bilo kakve detaljne pravne rasprave.

E. Relevantni tekstovi Saveta Evrope o visokom obrazovanju

  1. Među raznim tekstovima koje je usvojio Savet Evrope o visokom obrazovanju prvo treba navesti Preporuku Parlamentarne skupštine br. 1353 (1998) o pristupu manjina visokom obrazovanju, koja je usvojena 27. januara 1998. i Preporuku Komiteta ministara br. R (98) 3 o pristupu visokom obrazovanju, koja je usvojena 17. marta 1998. godine. Još jedan relevantan instrument u ovoj oblasti je zajednička Konvencija Saveta Evrope/UNESCO o priznavanju kvalifikacija u oblasti visokog obrazovanja u regionu Evrope, koja je potpisana u Lisabonu 11. aprila 1997. a na snagu je stupila 1. februara 1999. godine.
  2. U Preambuli Konvencije o priznavanju kvalifikacija u oblasti visokog obrazovanja u regionu Evrope kaže se:

 „Svesne činjenice da je pravo na obrazovanje ljudsko pravo, i da visoko obrazovanje, koje je od ključne važnosti u sticanju i usavršavanju znanja, predstavlja izuzetno bogato kulturno i naučno preimućstvo kako za pojedince, tako i za društvo. ...“

  1. Komitet ministara Saveta Evrope je 17. marta 1998. godine usvojio Preporuku br. R (98) 3 o pristupu visokom obrazovanju. U Preambuli preporuke je navedeno da:

„...visoko obrazovanje treba da odigra ključnu ulogu u unapređenju ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda i jačanju pluralističke demokratije i tolerancije [i] ... proširenje mogućnosti da pripadnici svih grupa u društvu učestvuju u visokom obrazovanju može da doprinese učvršćivanju demokratije i stvaranju poverenja u situacijama socijalnih napetosti...“

  1. Takođe, u članu 2 Preporuke br. 1353 (1998) o pristupu manjina visokom obrazovanju, koju je Parlamentarna skupština Saveta Evrope usvojila 27. januara 1998, se navodi:

„Obrazovanje je osnovno ljudsko pravo i stoga pristup svim nivoima, uključujući i visoko obrazovanje, treba da bude podjednako moguć za sve one koji imaju prebivalište u državama potpisnicama Evropske konvencije o kulturi.“

PRAVO

I. NAVODNO KRŠENJE ČLANA 9 KONVENCIJE

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je tvrdila da zabrana nošenja muslimanske marame u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja predstavlja neopravdano mešanje u njeno pravo na slobodu veroispovesti, naročito, njeno pravo da ispoljava svoju veru. Oslonila se na član 9 Konvencije, koji glasi:

„1. Svako ima pravo na slobodu misli, savesti i veroispovesti; ovo pravo uključuje slobodu promene vere ili uverenja i slobodu čoveka da, bilo sam ili zajedno s drugima, javno ili privatno, ispoljava veru ili uverenje molitvom, propovedi, običajima i obredom.
2. Sloboda ispovedanja vere ili ubeđenja može biti podvrgnuta samo onim ograničenjima koja su propisana zakonom i neophodna u demokratskom društvu u interesu javne bezbednosti, radi zaštite javnog reda, zdravlja ili morala, ili radi zaštite prava i sloboda drugih.“

A. Presuda veća

  1. Veće je utvrdilo da su propisi Istanbulskog univerziteta kojima se ograničava pravo na nošenje muslimanske marame i mere koje su preduzete u skladu s njima bile mešanje u pravo podnositeljke predstavke da ispoljava svoju veru. Dalje je utvrdilo da je takvo mešanje bilo propisano zakonom i sprovedeno s jednim od legitimnih ciljeva utvrđenih u drugom stavu člana 9 Konvencije. Ono je bilo opravdano u načelu i srazmerno ciljevima čijem se ostvarenju teži te se stoga može smatrati da je bilo „neophodno u demokratskom društvu“ (vidi stavove 66 do 116 presude veća).

B. Podnesci stranaka pred Velikim većem

  1. U svom zahtevu za obraćanje Velikom veću od 27. septembra 2004. godine i u njenim usmenim izjavama u raspravi, podnositeljka predstavke je osporila osnove na temelju kojih je veće zaključilo da nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije.
  2. Međutim, u komentarima koje je podnela Velikom veću 27. januara 2005. godine navela je da nije tražila pravno priznanje prava svih žena da svuda nose muslimansku maramu, između ostalog i ovom formulacijom: „U presudi odeljenja je implicitno sadržan koncept da pravo da se nosi marama neće uvek biti zaštićeno slobodom veroispovesti. [Ja] ne osporavam taj pristup”.
  3. Država je zatražila od Velikog veća da potvrdi zaključak veća da nije bilo kršenja člana 9.

C. Ocena Suda

  1. Sud mora da razmotri da li je bilo mešanja u pravo podnositeljke predstavke prema članu 9 i, ako ga je bilo, da li je mešanje bilo „propisano zakonom“, u cilju ostvarivanja legitimnog cilja i „neophodno u demokratskom društvu“ u značenju člana 9, stav 2 Konvencije.

1. Da li je bilo mešanja

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je navela da njen izbor načina odevanja mora da bude tretiran kao poštovanje verskog pravila koje je ona smatrala za „priznati običaj“. Ona je držala da je ograničenje o kom je reč, naime, pravilnik o nošenju muslimanske marame u prostorijama univerziteta, jasno mešanje u njeno pravo na slobodu da ispoljava svoju veru.
  2. Država nije dostavila nikakve podneske Velikom veću o ovom pitanju.
  3. U vezi s pitanjem da li je bilo mešanja, Veliko veće podržava sledeće zaključke veća (vidi stav 71 presude veća):

 „Podnosilac predstavke je navela da je ona, time što je nosila maramu, poštovala verski propis i na taj način ispoljivši svoju želju da se strogo pridržava dužnosti koje nameće islamska vera. Prema tome, može se smatrati da je njena odluka da nosi maramu motivisana ili inspirisana verom ili uverenjem i, nedonoseći odluku o tome da li su takve odluke u svakom slučaju donete da bi se ispunila neka verska dužnost, Sud nastavlja da postupa pod pretpostavkom da su propisi o kojima je reč, kojima su ograničena mesta i načini ostvarivanja prava na nošenje muslimanske marame na univerzitetima, predstavljali mešanje u pravo podnositeljke predstavke’ da ispoljava svoju veru.“

2. „Propisano zakonom“

(a) Podnesci stranaka pred Velikim većem

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je navela da nije bilo nikakvog „pisanog zakona“ kojim se studentima zabranjivalo nošenje muslimanske marame na univerzitetu, ni kada se ona upisala 1993. godine ni u periodu nakon toga. Objasnila je da u skladu s Pravilnikom o disciplinskom postupku za studente samo nošenje muslimanske marame nije bio disciplinski prekršaj (vidi stavove gore 49 i 50). Prvi propis kojim je ograničeno njeno pravo da nosi maramu bilo je cirkularno pismo koje je izdao prorektor Univerziteta 23. februara 1998 nekih četiri i po godine kasnije.
  2. U podnesku podnositeljke predstavke, nije moglo validno da se tvrdi da je pravni osnov za taj propis bila sudska praksa turskih sudova, pošto su sudovi imali nadležnost samo da primenjuju zakon, ne da utvrđuju nova pravna pravila. Iako u presudama od 7. marta 1989. i 9. aprila 1991. godine (vidi gore stavove 39 i 41) Ustavni sud nije delovao ultra vires u zabranjivanju marame u pojedinačnim slučajevima, parlament nije protumačio prvu od presuda tog suda na način da zahteva od njega da uvede zakonodavstvo kojim se zabranjuje muslimanska marama. Nije bilo nijedne odredbe u zakonima na snazi kojom se studentkinjama zabranjuje da nose maramu u prostorijama ustanova visokog obrazovanja, dok razlozi koje je dao Ustavni sud za svoju odluku nisu imali zakonsku snagu.
  3. Podnositeljka predstavke je navela da iako je neosporno da univerzitetske vlasti, uključujući kabinete prorektora i dekanate, imaju slobodu da koriste ovlašćenja koja su im data zakonom, obim tih ovlašćenja i njihova ograničenja su takođe definisani zakonom, kao što su i procedure za njihovo vršenje i zaštitni mehanizmi protiv zloupotrebe ovlašćenja. U ovom predmetu, prorektor nije imao odobrenje ili ovlašćenje, bilo prema važećim zakonima ili Pravilniku o disciplinskom postupku za studente, da studentima koji „nose maramu“ uskrati pristup u univerzitetske prostorije ili sale za ispite. Pored toga, parlament ni u jednom trenutku nije nastojao da donese opštu zabranu nošenja verskih obeležja u školama i na univerzitetima i takva zabrana nikada nije imala podršku u parlamentu, uprkos žestoke rasprave koja je pokrenuta povodom muslimanske marame. Štaviše, činjenica da administrativne vlasti nisu uvele nikakve opšte propise kojima se predviđa uvođenje disciplinskih kazni za studentkinje koje nose marame u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja znači da nikakva zabrana te vrste nije postojala.
  4. Podnositeljka predstavke je smatrala da se mešanje u njeno pravo nije moglo predvideti i da nije bilo zasnovano na „zakonu“ u smislu Konvencije.
  5. Država se ograničila na to da zatraži od Velikog veća da podrži zaključak veća u ovoj stvari.

(b) Ocena Suda

  1. Sud ponavlja da prema rešenim slučajevima koji su ušli u njegovu sudsku praksu izraz „propisan zakonom“ zahteva prvo da osporena mera ima osnov u domaćem pravu. Takođe upućuje na kvalitet zakona koji je u pitanju, zahtevajući da on bude dostupan licima o kojima je reč i formulisan s dovoljno preciznosti kako bi im omogućio – ako je potrebno, uz odgovarajuće savete – da predvide, do mere u kojoj se to razumno može očekivati u tim okolnostima, posledice koje data radnja može da povlači i da regulišu svoje ponašanje (Gorzelik and Others v. Poland [GC], br. 44158/98, st. 64, ECHR 2004-...).
  2. Sud napominje da se argumenti podnositeljke predstavke vezani za navodnu nepredvidivost turskog prava ne odnose na cirkularno pismo od 23. februara 1998. godine na kojem je zabrana za studentkinje da nose veo na predavanjima, kursevima i konsultacijama bila zasnovana. To cirkularno pismo izdao je prorektor Univerziteta u Istanbulu, koji je, kao nadležno lice kome su poverena glavna ovlašćenja u pogledu odlučivanja, bio odgovoran za nadziranje i praćenje administrativnih i naučnih aspekata funkcionisanja Univerziteta. On je ovo cirkularno pismo izdao u okviru zakonom utvrđenog okvira utvrđenog u članu 13 Zakona br. 2547 (vidi gore stav 52) i u skladu s regulatornim odredbama koje su bile usvojene pre toga.
  3. Prema navodima podnositeljke predstavke, međutim, cirkularno pismo nije bilo u skladu s prelaznim članom 17 Zakona br. 2547, pošto se tim članom nije zabranjivala muslimanska marama i nije bilo nikakvih zakonskih normi koje su mogle da predstavljaju pravni osnov za neku regulatornu odredbu.
  4. Sud stoga mora da razmotri da li je prelazni član 17 Zakona br. 2547 mogao da predstavlja pravni osnov za cirkularno pismo. U vezi s tim on ponavlja da je prvenstveno na vlastima zemlje, posebno sudova, da tumače i primenjuju domaće pravo (vidi Kruslin v. France, presuda od 24. aprila 1990, Serija A br. 176-A, str. 21, st. 29) i konstatuje da su se, u odbijanju argumenta da je cirkular bio nezakonit, upravni sudovi oslonili na rešene slučajeve koji su ušli u sudsku praksu Vrhovnog upravnog suda i Ustavnog suda (vidi gore stav).
  5. Nadalje, što se tiče reči „u skladu sa zakonom“ i „propisano zakonom“ koje se javljaju u članovima od 8 do 11 Konvencije, Sud napominje da je on uvek shvatao izraz „zakon“ u njegovom „materijalnom“ smislu, ne u „formalnom“; on je uključio kako „pisano pravo“, koje obuhvata akte nižeg ranga (De Wilde, Ooms and Versyp v. Belgium, presuda od 18. juna 1971, Serija A br. 12, str. 45, st. 93), tako i regulatorne mere koje preduzimaju profesionalna regulatorna tela u skladu s ovlašćenjima da autonomno donose pravila, koje im je preneo parlament (Bartold v. Germany, presuda od 25. marta 1985, Serija A br. 90, str. 21, st. 46), i nepisano pravo. „Zakon“ mora da bude shvaćen na način da obuhvata i kodifikovano pravo i sudsku praksu (vidi, između drugih izvora, Sunday Times v. the United Kingdom (br. 1), presuda od 26 aprila 1979, Serija A br. 30, str. 30, st. 47;Kruslin, gore naveden, st. 29 in fine; i Casado Coca v. Spain, presuda od 24. februara 1994, Serija A br. 285-A, str. 18,st. 43). Sve u svemu, „pravo“ je odredba koja je na snazi onako kako su je nadležni sudovi protumačili.
  6. Prema tome, ovo pitanje mora da bude razmotreno ne samo na osnovu formulacije prelaznog člana 17 Zakona br. 2547, već i relevantne sudske prakse. U vezi s tim, kako je Ustavni sud konstatovao u svojoj presudi od 9. aprila 1991. godine (vidi gore stav 41), formulacija tog člana pokazuje da sloboda izbora načina odevanja u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja nije apsolutna. Prema uslovima te odredbe, studenti mogu slobodno da se odevaju onako kako žele „pod uslovom da [njihov izbor] nije u suprotnosti sa zakonima koji su na snazi“.
  7. Spor se, stoga, odnosi na značenje reči „zakonima koji su na snazi“ u gorenavedenoj odredbi.
  8. Sud ponavlja da obim pojma predvidivosti u znatnoj meri zavisi od sadržaja instrumenta koji je u pitanju, oblasti koju treba da pokrije i broja i statusa onih kojima je upućeno. Takođe treba imati na umu da ma kako jasno formulisana zakonska odredba bila njena primena uključuje neizbežan element tumačenja od strane sudija, pošto će uvek postojati potreba da se razjasne nejasnoće i da se prilagodi određenim okolnostima. Jedna određena sumnja u vezi sa činjenicama koje mogu da se tumače na različite načine sama po sebi ne čini jednu pravnu odredbu nepredvidivom u primeni. Niti prosta činjenica da takva odredba može da se tumači na više od jednog načina znači da ona ne ispunjava zahtev „predvidivosti“ za potrebe Konvencije. Uloga presuđivanja koja je poverena sudovima je upravo da rasprše one sumnje u vezi s tumačenjem koje preostanu, uzimajući u obzir promene u svakodnevnoj praksi (Gorzelik and Others, presuda gore navedena, st. 65).
  9. Sud konstatuje da je s tim u vezi Ustavni sud u svojoj gorenavedenoj presudi utvrdio da su reči „zakoni koji su na snazi“ nužno obuhvataju Ustav. Presuda je takođe jasno navela da je davanje odobrenja studentima da „pokrivaju vrat i kosu velom ili maramom iz razloga vezanih za verska ubeđenja“ na univerzitetima u suprotnosti s Ustavom (vidi gore stav 41).
  10. Ta odluka Ustavnog suda, koja je bila kako obavezujuća (vidi gore stavove 29 i 54), tako i dostupna, pošto je bila objavljena u Službenom glasniku od 31. jula 1991, dopunjavala je slovo prelaznog člana 17 i sledila je raniju sudsku praksu Ustavnog suda (vidi stav 39. u gornjem tekstu). Pored toga, Vrhovni administrativni sud je do tada dosledno smatrao u periodu od više godina da nošenje muslimanske marame na univerzitetu nije u skladu s osnovnim načelima Republike, pošto je marama polako postajala simbol vizije koja je bila suprotna slobodama žena i tim osnovnim načelima (vidi gore stav 37).
  11. Što se tiče argumenta podnositeljke predstavke da parlament ni u jednom trenutku nije uveo zabranu nošenja marame, Sud ponavlja da nije na njemu da iznese mišljenje o celishodnosti metoda koji su odabrani od strane parlamenta tužene države radi regulisanja date oblasti. Njegov zadatak ograničen je na utvrđivanje toga da li su usvojeni metodi i njihovi efekti u skladu s Konvencijom (Gorzelik and Others, presuda gore navedena, st. 67).
  12. Osim toga, činjenica da Univerzitet u Istanbulu ili drugi univerziteti možda nisu primenjivali određeno pravilo – u ovom slučaju prelazni član 17 Zakona br. 2547 protumačen u svetlu relevantne sudske prakse – rigorozno u svim slučajevima, radije uzimajući u obzir kontekst i specifičnosti pojedinačnih kurseva, ne čini sama po sebi to pravilo nepredvidivim. U turskom ustavnom sistemu, univerzitetske vlasti ni pod kakvim okolnostima ne mogu da ograničavaju osnovna prava bez zakonske osnove (vidi član 13 Ustava – gore stav 29). Njihova uloga je ograničena na utvrđivanje internih pravilnika dotične obrazovne ustanove u skladu s pravilom kojim se zahteva usaglašenost sa zakonom i podložno ovlašćenjima upravnih sudova da vrše preispitivanje.
  13. Nadalje, Sud prihvata da se može pokazati teškim formulisati zakone s visokim stepenom preciznosti o pitanjima kao što su interni univerzitetski pravilnik, i čvrsto regulisanje može da bude neodgovarajuće (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Gorzelik and Others, presuda gore navedena, st. 67).
  14. Takođe, nema sumnje da su propisi o nošenju muslimanske marame postojali na Univerzitetu u Istanbulu najkasnije od 1994. znatno pre nego što se podnositeljka predstavke upisala na njega (vidi gore stavove 43 i 45).
  15. Pod ovim okolnostima, Sud nalazi da je u turskom pravu postojao pravni osnov za mešanje, i to prelazni član 17 Zakona br. 2547 protumačen u svetlu relevantne sudske prakse domaćih sudova. Zakon je takođe bio dostupan i može se smatrati dovoljno preciznim u svojim formulacijama da bi zadovoljio zahtev predvidivosti. Podnositeljki predstavke bi bilo jasno, od trenutka kada je stupila na Univerzitet u Istanbulu, da su postojala ograničenja u vezi s nošenjem muslimanske marame u prostorijama univerziteta i, od 23. februara 1998. da će joj po svoj prilici biti uskraćen pristup predavanjima i ispitima ako nastavi to da čini.

3. Legitiman cilj

  1. Uzimajući u obzir okolnosti ovog predmeta i odredbe odluka domaćih sudova, Sud može da prihvati da se osporenim mešanjem težilo prvenstveno ostvarivanju legitimnih ciljeva zaštite prava i sloboda drugih i zaštite javnog reda, što je stvar koja nije sporna između stranaka.

4. „Neophodna u demokratskom društvu“

(a) Podnesci stranaka pred Velikim većem

(i) Podnositeljka predstavke

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke osporila je zaključke veća. U njenim komentarima od 27. septembra 2004. godine i njenim usmenim izjavama na raspravi, ona je tvrdila da pojmovi „demokratije“ i „republike“ nisu isti. Dok mnogi totalitarni režimi tvrde da su „republike“, samo istinska demokratija može da bude zasnovana na načelima pluralizma i slobodoumnosti. Struktura pravosudnog i univerzitetskog sistema u Turskoj određena je uzastopnim državnim udarima koje je izvela vojska 1960, 1971. i 1980. godine. Pozivajući se na sudsku praksu Suda i praksu koja je usvojena u jednom broju zemalja u Evropi, podnositeljka predstavke je zatim izjavila da državama potpisnicama ne treba dati veliko polje slobodne procene da regulišu način odevanja studenata. Objasnila je da nijedna evropska država ne zabranjuje studentima da nose muslimansku maramu na univerzitetu i dodala da nije bilo znakova napetosti u ustanovama visokog obrazovanja koji bi opravdali tako radikalnu meru.
  2. Podnositeljka predstavke je dalje objasnila u njenim ranije pomenutim komentarima da su studenti razboriti odrasli ljudi koji imaju punu poslovnu sposobnost i koji su sposobni da sami odlučuju šta je ispravno ponašanje. Shodno tome, tvrdnja da je ona, nošenjem muslimanske marame, pokazala nedostatak poštovanja prema ubeđenjima drugih ili da je nastojala da utiče na kolege studente i narušava njihova prava i slobode, je bila potpuno neosnovana. Niti je stvorila neko spoljno ograničenje u pogledu bilo koje slobode uz podršku ili odobrenje države. Njen izbor je bio zasnovan na verskom ubeđenju, što je najvažnije osnovno pravo koje joj je dala pluralistička, liberalna demokratija. Po njenom mišljenju, nesporno je da su ljudi slobodni da se podvrgnu ograničenjima ako to smatraju celishodnim. Takođe nije bilo pravedno reći da je i samo nošenje muslimanske marame u suprotnosti s načelom ravnopravnosti između muškaraca i žena, pošto sve vere nameću takva ograničenja u pogledu odevanja, a ljudi imaju slobodu da izaberu da li će ih se pridržavati ili ne.
  3. Nasuprot tome, u svojim komentarima od 27. januara 2005. podnositeljka predstavke je rekla da je mogla da prihvati da nošenje muslimanske marame neće uvek biti zaštićeno slobodom veroispovesti (vidi gore stav 73).

(ii) Država

  1. Država se složila sa zaključcima veća (vidi gore stav 71).

(b) Ocena Suda

(i) Opšta načela

  1. Sud ponavlja da je, kao što je utvrđeno članom 9 sloboda misli, savesti i veroispovesti jedan od temelja „demokratskog društva“ u smislu Konvencije. Ova sloboda je, u svojoj verskoj dimenziji, jedan od najvitalnijih elemenata koji spada u ono što čini identitet vernika i njihove koncepcije života, ali je isto tako i dragocena vrednost za ateiste, agnostike, skeptike i nezainteresovane. Pluralizam koji je neraskidivo vezan za demokratsko društvo, a koji je izvojevan teškom viševekovnom borbom, zavisi od nje. Ta sloboda povlači, između ostalog, slobodu da se imaju ili nemaju verska uverenja i da se upražnjava ili ne upražnjava vera (vidi, između ostalih izvora, Kokkinakis v. Greece, 25. maj 1993, Serija A br. 260A, str. 17, st. 3; i Buscarini i drugi v. San Marino [GC], br. 24645/94, st. 34, ECHR 1999-I).
  2. Mada je verska sloboda stvar prvenstveno lične savesti, ona podrazumeva, između ostalog, i slobodu ispoljavanja vere, u samoći i privatno ili zajedno s drugima, javno i u krugu onih koji imaju istu veru. U članu 9 navedeni su razni oblici koje ispoljavanje nečije vere ili uverenja može da ima, i to molitva, propoved, običaji i obred (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France [GC], br. 27417/95, st. 73, ECHR 2000-VII). Član 9 ne štiti svaki čin motivisan ili inspirisan verom ili uverenjem (vidi, među mnogim drugim izvorima, Kalaç v. Turkey, presuda od 1. jula 1997, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997-IV, str. 1209, st. 27; Arrowsmith v. the United Kingdom, br. 7050/75, Odluka Komisije od 12. oktobra 1978, Decisions and Reports (DR) 19, str. 5; C. v. the United Kingdom, br. 10358/83, Odluka Komisije od 15. decembra 1983, DR 37, str. 142; i Tepeli and Others v. Turkey (dec.), br. 31876/96, 11. septembar 2001).
  3. U demokratskim društvima, u kojima nekoliko vera koegzistiraju u okviru jedne iste populacije, može biti neophodno da se uvedu ograničenja slobode da se ispoljava vera ili uverenje kako bi se uskladili interesi raznih grupa i osiguralo poštovanje uverenja svakog lica (Kokkinakis, navedena u gornjem tekstu, str. 18, st. 33). To proističe kako iz stava 2 člana 9 tako i iz pozitivne obaveze države prema članu 1 Konvencije da osigura svakome u njenoj nadležnosti prava i slobode definisane Konvencijom.
  4. Sud je često naglašavao ulogu države kao neutralnog i nepristrasnog organizatora ispovedanja raznih vera, veroispovesti i uverenja, i govorio da ova uloga doprinosi javnom redu, verskoj harmoniji i toleranciji u demokratskom društvu. On, takođe, smatra da je obaveza neutralnosti i nepristrasnosti države nespojiva s bilo kojim ovlašćenjem države da ocenjuje legitimnost verskih uverenja ili načina na koje se ta uverenja izražavaju (vidi Manoussakis and Others v. Greece, presuda od 26. septembra 1996, Reports 1996-IV, str. 1365, st. 47; Hassan and Tchaouch v. Bulgaria [GC], br. 30985/96, st. 78, ECHR 2000-XI; Refah Partisi and Others, presuda navedena u gornjem tekstu, st. 91) i da ona zahteva od države da osigura uzajamnu toleranciju između suprotstavljenih grupa (United Communist Party of Turkey and Others v. Turkey, presuda od 30. januara 1998, Reports 1998-I, st. 57). Prema tome, uloga vlasti u takvim okolnostima nije da otkloni uzrok napetosti tako što će ukloniti pluralizam, već da obezbedi da konkurentske grupe tolerišu jedna drugu (Serif v. Greece, br. 38178/97, st. 53, ECHR 1999-IX).
  5. Pluralizam, tolerancija i slobodoumnost su obeležja „demokratskog društva“. Mada pojedinačni interesi ponekad moraju da budu podređeni interesima grupe, demokratija ne znači prosto da stavovi većine moraju uvek da prevagnu: mora da se postigne ravnoteža koja osigurava pravično i ispravno postupanje prema pripadnicima manjina i kojom se izbegava bilo koja zloupotreba dominantnog položaja (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Young, James and Webster v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 13. avgusta 1981, Serija A br. 44, str. 25, st. 63; i Chassagnou and Others v. France [GC], br. 25088/94, 28331/95 i 28443/95, st. 112, ECHR 1999-III). Pluralizam i demokratija takođe moraju da budu utemeljeni na dijalogu i duhu kompromisa koji nužno povlače razne ustupke pojedinaca ili grupa pojedinaca koji su opravdani, da bi se održali i unapredili ideali i vrednosti demokratskog društva (vidi, mutatis mutandis, the United Communist Party of Turkey and Others, presuda navedena u gornjem tekstu,str. 21–22, st. 45; i Refah Partisi and Others, presuda gore navedena, st. 99). U onim slučajevima u kojima su ova „prava i slobode“ sami među onima garantovanim Konvencijom ili Protokolima uz nju, mora se prihvatiti da potreba da se oni zaštite može države da dovede do toga da ograniče druga prava ili slobode takođe utvrđene Konvencijom. Upravo ovo stalno traganje za ravnotežom između osnovnih prava svakog pojedinca je ono što čini temelj „demokratskog društva“ (Chassagnou and Others, presuda navedena u gornjem tekstu, st. 113).
  6. U onim slučajevima u kojima se radi o pitanjima vezanim za odnos između države i vera, o čemu mišljenje može objektivno veoma da se razlikuje u demokratskom društvu, ulozi nacionalnog tela koje donosi odluke mora da bude dat poseban značaj (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek, navedena gore, st. 84; i Wingrove v. the United Kingdom presuda od 25. novembra 1996, Reports 1996-V, str. 1958, st. 58). To će naročito biti slučaj kada je u pitanju regulisanje nošenja verskih simbola u obrazovnim institucijama, naročito (kao što ilustruju materijali iz oblasti uporednog prava – vidi gore stavove 55–65) s obzirom na raznolikost pristupa koje su vlasti različitih zemalja zauzele po ovom pitanju. Nije moguće uočiti jednoobrazan koncept u Evropi o značaju vere u društvu (Otto-Preminger-Institut v. Austria, presuda od 20. septembra 1994, Serija A br. 295-A, str. 19, st. 50) a značenje ili uticaj javnog izražavanja verskog uverenja razlikovaće se prema vremenu i kontekstu (vidi, među drugim izvorima, Dahlab v. Switzerland (dec.)br. 42393/98, ECHR 2001-V). Pravila u ovoj oblasti će se shodno tome razlikovati od zemlje do zemlje prema nacionalnim tradicijama i zahtevima koje nameće potreba da se zaštite prava i slobode drugih i da se održi javni red (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Wingrove, presuda navedena u gornjem tekstu,str. 1957, st. 57). Prema tome, izbor delokruga i oblika koje takvi propisi treba da imaju mora neminovno da bude ostavljen državi o kojoj je reč do određene mere, pošto će on zavisiti od datog domaćeg konteksta (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Gorzelik, presuda navedena gore, st. 67; i Murphy v. Ireland,br. 44179/98, st. 73, ECHR 2003-IX (izvodi)).
  7. Ovo polje slobodne procene ide ruku pod ruku s evropskim nadzorom koji obuhvata kako pravo tako i odluke kojima se ono primenjuje. Zadatak Suda je da utvrdi da li su mere koje su preduzete na nivou zemlje bile opravdane u načelu i srazmerne (Manoussakis and Others, presuda navedena u gornjem tekstu, st. 44). U određivanju toga dokle se prostire polje slobodne procene u ovom slučaju Sud mora da ima u vidu šta je u pitanju, naime potrebu da se zaštite prava i slobode drugih, da se sačuva javni red i osigura građanski mir i istinski verski pluralizam, koji je od ključne važnosti za opstanak demokratskog društva (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Kokkinakis, presuda navedena gore, st. 31; Manoussakis and Others, presuda navedena gore, str. 1364, st. 44; i Casado Coca, presuda navedena gore, st. 55).
  8. Sud takođe konstatuje da su u odlukama Karaduman v. Turkey (br. 16278/90, odluka Komisije od 3. maja 1993, DR 74, str. 93) i Dahlab v. Switzerland (br. 42393/98, ECHR 2001-V) institucije predviđene Konvencijom ustanovile da u demokratskom društvu država ima pravo da uvede ograničenja nošenja muslimanske marame ako je to nespojivo sa željenim ciljem zaštite prava i sloboda drugih, javnog reda i javne bezbednosti. U predmetu Karaduman, utvrđeno je da su mere preduzete na univerzitetima radi sprečavanja da određeni fundamentalistički verski pokreti vrše pritisak na studente koji nisu upražnjavali veru ili koji su bili pripadnici druge vere bile opravdane prema članu 9, stav 2 Konvencije. Shodno tome, ustanovljeno je da ustanove visokog obrazovanja mogu da regulišu vršenje obreda i ispoljavanje simbola vere uvodeći ograničenja u vezi s mestom i načinom takvog ispoljavanja u cilju obezbeđivanja mirne koegzistencije između studenata raznih veroispovesti, na taj način štiteći javni red i uverenja drugih (vidi, među drugim izvorima, Refah Partisi and Others, navedenu gore, st. 95). U predmetu Dahlab, koji se odnosio na učiteljicu jednog odeljenja učenika nižih razreda, Sud je naglasio između ostalog, „moćan spoljni simbol“ koji je njeno nošenje marame predstavljalo i postavio je pitanje da li bi to moglo da ima neku vrstu prozelitizirajućeg efekta, videvši da je to izgleda bilo nametnuto ženama verskim propisom koji je bilo teško uskladiti s načelom rodne ravnopravnosti. Takođe je konstatovao da nošenje muslimanske marame ne bi moglo lako da bude usklađeno s porukom tolerancije, poštovanja drugih i, pre svega, ravnopravnosti i nediskriminacije koju bi svi nastavnici u demokratskom društvu trebalo da prenose svojim učenicima.

(ii) Primena gorenavedenih načela na ovaj slučaj

  1. Mešanje o kom je reč, prouzrokovano cirkularnim pismom od 23. februara 1998. godine kojim su uvedena ograničenja u pogledu mesta i načina korišćenja prava studenata kao što je gospođica Šahin da nose muslimansku maramu u prostorijama univerziteta, bilo je prema stavovima turskih sudova (vidi gore stavove 37, 39 i 41), utemeljeno pre svega na dva načela sekularizma i jednakosti.
  2. U presudi od 7. marta 1989, Ustavni sud naveo je da je sekularizam, kao garant demokratskih vrednosti, tačka u kojoj se susreću sloboda i jednakost. To načelo sprečilo je državu da daje prednost određenoj veri ili uverenju; ono je na taj način rukovodilo državu u njenoj ulozi nepristrasnog arbitra, i nužno je povlačilo slobodu veroispovesti i savesti. Ono je takođe služilo da se zaštiti pojedinac ne samo od samovoljnog mešanja države već i od spoljnog pritiska ekstremističkih pokreta. Ustavni sud je dodao da sloboda ispoljavanja vere može da bude ograničena da bi se odbranile te vrednosti i načela (vidi gore stav 39).
  3. Kao što je veće ispravno navelo (vidi stav 106 njegove presude), Sud smatra da je ovaj koncept sekularizma u skladu s vrednostima na kojima se temelji Konvencija. On nalazi da se poštovanje tog načela, koje je bez sumnje jedno od osnovnih načela turske države, koja su u skladu s vladavinom prava i poštovanjem ljudskih prava, može smatrati neophodnim da bi se zaštitio demokratski sistem u Turskoj. Stav koji ne poštuje to načelo neće nužno biti prihvaćen kao stav koji je obuhvaćen slobodom ispoljavanja vere i neće uživati zaštitu člana 9 Konvencije (vidi Refah Partisi and Others, presuda gore navedena, st. 93).
  4. Nakon što je razmotrilo argumente stranaka, Veliko veće ne vidi ni jedan valjan razlog da odstupi od pristupa koji je zauzelo veće (vidi stavove 107– 109 presude veća) kako sledi:

„... Sud ... konstatuje naglasak koji se u turskom ustavnom sistemu stavlja na zaštitu prava žena... Ustavni sud Turske je takođe ustanovio da je rodna ravnopravnost – koju Evropski sud priznaje kao jedno od ključnih načela koja su u osnovi Konvencije i cilj koji države članice Saveta Evrope treba da ostvare (vidi, među drugim izvorima, Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali v. United-Kingdom, presuda od 28. maja 1985, Serija A br. 77, str. 38, st. 78; Schuler-Zgraggen v. Switzerland, presuda od 24. juna 1993, Serija A br. 263, str. 21–22, st. 67; Burgharz v. Switzerland, presuda od 22. februara 1994, Serija A br. 280-B, str. 29, st. 27; Van Raalte v. Netherlands, presuda od 21. februara 1997, Reports 1997-I, str. 186, st. 39, in fine; i Petrovic v. Austria presuda od 27. marta 1998, Reports 1998-II, str. 587, st. 37) – načelo koje je implicitno sadržano u vrednostima koje su u osnovi Ustava...
... Pored toga, kao i Ustavni sud..., Sud smatra da, pri razmatranju pitanja muslimanske marame u kontekstu Turske mora se imati na umu uticaj koji nošenje takvog simbola, koji se predstavlja ili doživljava kao obavezna verska dužnost, može da ima na one koji odluče da je ne nose. Kao što je već konstatovano (vidi Karaduman,odluku navedenu u gornjem tekstu; i Refah Partisi and Others, navedenu gore, stav 95), pitanja o kojima je reč obuhvataju zaštitu „prava i sloboda drugih“ i „održavanje javnog reda“ u zemlji u kojoj se većina stanovništva, mada propovedajući snažnu privrženost pravima žena i sekularnom načinu života, pridržava islamske vere. Nametanje ograničenja slobode u ovoj oblasti može, stoga, da se smatra zadovoljavanjem goruće društvene potrebe kroz nastojanje da se ostvare ta dva legitimna cilja, naročito budući da je, kako su turski sudovi naveli..., poslednjih godina ovaj verski simbol poprimio politički značaj u Turskoj.
... Sud ne gubi iz vida činjenicu da u Turskoj postoje ekstremistički politički pokreti koji nastoje da društvu u celini nametnu svoje verske simbole i koncepciju društva zasnovanog na verskim propisima... On je ranije rekao da svaka država članica može, u skladu s odredbama Konvencije, da zauzme stav protiv takvih političkih pokreta, na osnovu svog istorijskog iskustva (Refah Partisi and Others, navedena gore, st. 124). Propisi o kojima je reč moraju da budu posmatrani u tom kontekstu i predstavljaju meru čija je namera bila da ostvari legitimne ciljeve navedene u gornjem tekstu i na taj način očuva pluralizam na univerzitetu.“

  1. Imajući u vidu gorenavedene opšte informacije, načelo sekularizma, onako kako ga je Ustavni sud je protumačio (vidi gore stav 39) ono koje je najvažniji razlog koji leži u osnovi zabrane nošenja verskih simbola na univerzitetima. U takvom kontekstu, u kome vrednosti pluralizma, poštovanje prava drugih i, posebno, ravnopravnost pred zakonom muškaraca i žena se uče i primenjuju u praksi, razumljivo je da relevantne vlasti žele da očuvaju sekularnu prirodu institucije o kojoj je reč i tako smatraju da je suprotno tim vrednostima da se dozvoli nošenje verske odežde, uključujući, kao u ovom slučaju, muslimansku maramu.
  2. Sud sada mora da odredi da li je u ovom predmetu postojao razuman odnos srazmernosti između upotrebljenih sredstava i legitimnih ciljeva čijem se ostvarenju težilo kroz ovo mešanje.
  3. Kao i veće (vidi stav 111 njegove presude), Veliko veće konstatuje na početku da je opšte poznato da studenti muslimani koji su aktivni vernici na turskim univerzitetima mogu slobodno, u okviru granica postavljenim obrazovnim organizacionim ograničenjima u obrazovanju, da ispoljavaju svoju veru u skladu s uobičajenim oblicima muslimanskih obreda. Pored toga, zaključak koji je usvojio Univerzitet u Istanbulu 9. jula 1998. godine pokazuje da su razne druge forme verske odežde takođe zabranjene u prostorijama univerziteta (vidi gore stav 47).
  4. Takođe treba konstatovati da kada se pitanje da li studentkinjama treba dozvoliti da nose muslimansku maramu pojavilo na Univerzitetu u Istanbulu 1994. godine u vezi s kursevima iz medicine, prorektor ih je podsetio na razloge za pravilnik o načinu odevanja. Tvrdeći da su pozivi da se dozvolinošenje muslimanske marame u svim delovima univerzitetskih prostorija loša zamisao i ukazujući na ograničenja u pogledu javnog reda koja važe za kurseve iz medicine, on je zatražio od studenata da se pridržavaju pravilnika, koji je bio u skladu i sa zakonodavstvom i sudskom praksom viših sudova (vidi gore stavove 43–44).
  5. Osim toga, proces primene propisa koji su doveli do odluke od 9. jula 1998. godine trajao je nekoliko godina i bio je propraćen širokom raspravom u turskom društvu i u okviru nastavničke struke (vidi gore stav 35). Dva najviša suda, Vrhovni upravni sud i Ustavni sud, uspeli su da ustanove sudsku praksu na osnovu rešenih slučajeva u vezi s ovim pitanjem (vidi gore stavove 37, 39 i 41). Prilično je jasno da su kroz čitav taj proces odlučivanja univerzitetske vlasti nastojale da se prilagode situaciji koja se stalno razvijala na način koji ne bi sprečavao pristup univerzitetu studentima koji nose veo, kroz stalni dijalog sa zainteresovanima, starajući se u isto vreme da se održi red i naročito da zahtevi koje nameće priroda kursa koji je u pitanju budu zadovoljeni.
  6. S tim u vezi, Sud ne prihvata izjavu podnositeljke predstavke da činjenica da nije bilo disciplinskih kazni za nepoštovanje pravila o odevanju efektivno znači da nikakva pravila nisu ni postojala (vidi gore stav 81). Što se tiče toga kako je trebalo obezbediti poštovanje unutrašnjih pravilnika, nije na Sudu da svojim stavom zameni stav univerzitetskih vlasti. Zbog njihovog neposrednog i stalnog kontakta s obrazovnom zajednicom, univerzitetske vlasti su u načelu u boljoj poziciji od nekog međunarodnog suda da procene lokalne potrebe i uslove ili zahteve određenog kursa (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Valsamis v. Greece, presuda od 18. decembra 1996, Reports 1996-VI, str. 2325, st. 32). Osim toga, pošto je utvrdio da se propisima težilo ostvarenju legitimnog cilja, Sud nema mogućnosti da primeni kriterijum srazmernosti na način koji bi koncept „internih pravila“ neke institucije lišio svrhe. Član 9 ne garantuje uvek pravo na ponašanje koje je rukovođeno verskim uverenjem (Pichon and Sajous v. France (dec.), br. 49853/99, ECHR 2001-X) i ne daje ljudima koji to čine pravo da prenebregnu pravila koja su se pokazala opravdanim (vidi mišljenje Komisije, st. 51, sadržano u njenom izveštaju od 6. jula 1995. godine koje je priloženo uz presudu u predmetu Valsamis naveden gore, str. 2337).
  7. U svetlu gorenavedenog i uzimajući u obzir polje slobodne procene koje države potpisnice imaju u ovoj oblasti, Sud nalazi da je mešanje o kom je reč bilo u načelu opravdano i srazmerno cilju čijem se ostvarenju težilo.
  8. Shodno tome, nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije.

NAVODNO KRŠENJE ČLANA 2 PROTOKOLA BR. 1

A. Da li je potrebno odvojeno razmatranje ove tužbe

1. Podnesci stranaka

  1. Sud konstatuje da i pored toga što se podnositeljka predstavke oslonila na razne odredbe Konvencije (članovi 8, 10 i 14 i član 2 Protokola br. 1) pred većem, njen glavni argument je bio da je došlo do kršenja člana 9 Konvencije. U njenom zahtevu za obraćanje, podnositeljka predstavke tražila je od Velikog veća da ustanovi kršenje članova 8, 9, 10 i 14 Konvencije i člana 2 Protokola br. 1. Ona nije dostavila nikakve pravne podneske u pogledu člana 10.
  2. U njenim pisanim podnescima od 27. januara 2005, međutim, čini se da je podnositeljka predstavke iznela svoj slučaj koji se odnosio na propise od 23. februara 1998. godine u drugačijem svetlu od onog u kom je ranije bio iznet pred veće. U tim podnescima, ona „navodi [je navodila] kao svoj glavni podnesak kršenje člana 2 Protokola br. 1 i traži [je tražila] od Velikog veća da zauzme stav shodno tome“. Između ostalog, ona je tražila od Suda da „utvrdi da je odluka da [joj] se uskrati pristup Univerzitetu kada nosi muslimansku maramu u ovom slučaju ravna povredi njenog prava na obrazovanje, garantovanog članom 2 Protokola br. 1, protumačenog u svetlu članova 8, 9 i 10 Konvencije“.
  3. Država je tvrdila da nije bilo povrede prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1.

2. Presuda veća

  1. Veće je utvrdilo da nijedno odvojeno pitanje nije pokrenuto prema članovima 8, 10 i 14 Konvencije ili članu 2 Protokola br. 1, što su odredbe na koje se oslonila podnositeljka predstavke, pošto su relevantne okolnosti bile iste kao one koje je razmatralo u vezi sa članom 9, u vezi s kojim nije bilo utvrđeno nikakvo kršenje.

3. Ocena Suda

  1. Sud napominje da u skladu s njegovom sudskom praksom koja je sada čvrsto zasnovana, „predmet“ upućen Velikom veću nužno obuhvata sve aspekte predstavke koju je prethodno razmatralo veće u svojoj presudi, te nema nikakvog osnova za samo delimično obraćanje Velikom veću po ovom predmetu (vidi, kao najnovije izvore, Cumpănă and Mazăre v. Romania [GC], br. 33348/96, st. 66, ECHR 2004-...; i and T. v. Finland [GC], br. 25702/94, st. 140–141, ECHR 2001-VII). „Predmet“ upućen Velikom veću je predstavka onako kako je proglašena prihvatljivom.
  2. Sud smatra, uzimajući u obzir posebne okolnosti predmeta, suštinsku važnost prava na obrazovanje i stav stranaka, da se tužba prema prvoj rečenici člana 2 Protokola br. 1 može smatrati odvojenom od tužbe prema članu 9 Konvencije, bez obzira na činjenicu da je, kao što je to bio slučaj s članom 9, suština tužbe kritika propisa koji su doneti 23. februara 1998. godine.
  3. Na kraju, Sud će razmotriti ovu tužbu odvojeno (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Göç v. Turkey [GC], br. 36590/97, st. 46, ECHR 2002-V).

B. Primenjivost

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je tvrdila da je došlo do kršenja prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1, koja glasi:

„Niko ne može biti lišen prava na obrazovanje.“

Obim prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1

(a) Podnesci stranaka pred Velikim većem

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke je izjavila da nema sumnje da se pravo na obrazovanje, garantovano prvom rečenicom člana 2 Protokola br. 1, odnosi na visoko obrazovanje, pošto se ta odredba odnosi na sve ustanove koje postoje u datom trenutku.
  2. Država nije komentarisala ovo pitanje.

(b) Ocena Suda

  1. Prva rečenica člana 2 Protokola br. 1 predviđa da niko ne može biti lišen prava na obrazovanje. Mada se u ovoj odredbi ne pominje visoko obrazovanje, nema ničeg što bi ukazivalo da se ona ne odnosi na sve nivoe obrazovanja, uključujući visoko obrazovanje.
  2. Što se tiče sadržaja prava na obrazovanje i obima obaveze koju ono nameće, Sud konstatuje da je u predmetu „Belgijski jezički slučaj (Belgian Linguistic case)“ (presuda u meritumu od 23. jula 1968, Serija A br. 6, str. 31, st. 3), naveo: „Negativna formulacija ukazuje, kako je potvrdio i „pripremni rad“..., da države potpisnice ne priznaju takvo pravo na obrazovanje koje bi zahtevalo da one o svom trošku uspostave obrazovanje bilo kog određenog tipa ili na bilo kom određenom nivou, ili da ga subvencionišu. Međutim, iz ovoga se ne može zaključiti da država nema nikakvu pozitivnu obavezu da obezbedi poštovanje tog prava koje je zaštićeno članom 2 Protokola. Kako „pravo“ zaista postoji, ono je osigurano, na temelju člana 1 Konvencije, svakom u nadležnosti države potpisnice“.
  3. Sud ne gubi iz vida činjenicu da razvoj prava na obrazovanje, čiji sadržaj varira od trenutka do trenutka ili od mesta do mesta, prema ekonomskim i društvenim okolnostima, uglavnom zavisi od potreba i resursa zajednice. Međutim, od ključne je važnosti da se Konvencija tumači i primenjuje na način koji čini njena prava praktičnim i delotvornim, a ne teoretskim i iluzornim. Štaviše, Konvencija je živ instrument koji mora da se tumači u svetlu današnjih uslova (Marckx v. Belgium, presuda od 13. juna 1979, Serija A br. 31, str. 19, st. 41; Airey v. Ireland, presuda od 9. oktobra 1979, Serija A br. 32, str. 14–15, st. 26; i, kao najnoviji izvor, Mamatkulov and Askarov v. Turkey [GC], br. 46827/99 i 46951/99, st. 121, 4. februara 2005. godine). Mada se prvom rečenicom člana 2 u osnovi utvrđuje pristup osnovnom i srednjem obrazovanju, ne postoji neka čvrsta podela kojom se visoko obrazovanje odvaja od drugih oblika obrazovanja. U više nedavno usvojenih instrumenata, Savet Evrope je naglasio ključnu ulogu i značaj visokog obrazovanja u unapređivanju ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda i jačanju demokratije (vidi, između ostalog, Preporuku br. R (98) 3 i Preporuku br. 1353 (1998) – navedene gore u stavovima 68 i 69). Kao što se navodi u Konvenciji o priznavanju kvalifikacija u oblasti visokog obrazovanja u regionu Evrope (vidi gore stav 67), visoko obrazovanje „je od suštinske važnosti u sticanju i unapređivanju znanja“ i „predstavlja izuzetno bogato kulturno i naučno preimućstvo kako za pojedince tako i za društvo“.
  4. Shodno tome, bilo bi teško zamisliti da ustanove visokog obrazovanja koje su postojale u datom trenutku ne ulaze u obuhvat prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br 1. Mada se tim članom ne uvodi obaveza država potpisnica da osnivaju ustanove visokog obrazovanja, svaka država koja to čini biće u obavezi da dâ efektivno pravo pristupa tim ustanovama. U demokratskom društvu, pravo na obrazovanje, koje je nezaobilazno u unapređivanju ljudskih prava, igra tako fundamentalnu ulogu da restriktivno tumačenje prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1 ne bi bilo u skladu s ciljem ili svrhom te odredbe (vidi, mutatis mutandis, „Belgian Linguistic case“, naveden gore, str. 33, st. 9; i Delcourt v. Belgium, presuda od 17. januara 1970, Serija A br. 11, str. 14, st. 25).
  5. Ovaj pristup je u skladu s izveštajem Komisije u predmetu Belgian Linguistic case (vidi presudu navedenu gore, str. 22), u kojoj je još 1965. navela da iako obim prava zaštićenog članom 2 Protokola br. 1 nije definisan ili preciziran u Konvenciji, ono obuhvata, „za potrebe razmatranja ovog slučaja“, „pravo ulaska u predškolske ustanove, osnovno, srednje i visoko obrazovanje“.
  6. Komisija je nakon toga uočila u nizu odluka: „pravo na obrazovanje predviđeno članom 2 tiče se prvenstveno osnovnog obrazovanja, a ne nužno i visokih studija kao što su tehničke studije „ ( v. the United Kingdom, br. 5962/72, odluka Komisije od 13. marta 1975, DR 2, str. 50; i Kramelius v. Sweden, br. 21062/92, odluka Komisije od 17. januara 1996. godine). U novijim predmetima, ostavljajući vrata otvorenim za primenu člana 2 Protokola br. 1 na univerzitetsko obrazovanje, ona je razmatrala legitimitet određenih ograničenja pristupa ustanovama visokog obrazovanja (vidi, u vezi s ograničenjaima pristupa visokom obrazovanju, X. v. the United Kingdom, br. 8844/80, odluka Komisije od 9. decembra 1980, DR 23, str. 228; i u vezi sa suspenzijom ili isključivanjem iz obrazovnih institucija, Yanasik v. Turkey, br. 14524/89, odluka Komisije od 6. januara 1993, DR 74, str. 14; i Sulak v. Turkey, br. 24515/94, odluka Komisije od 17. januara 1996, DR 84, str. 98).
  7. Sa svoje strane, nakon predmeta Belgian Linguistic case Sud je proglasio niz predmeta o visokom obrazovanju neprihvatljivim, ne zato što je prva rečenica člana 2 Protokola br. 1 bila neprimenljiva, već iz drugih razloga (tužba lica s invaliditetom koje nije ispunilo uslove univerziteta za prijem, Lukach v. Russia (dec.), br. 48041/99, 16. novembra 1999. godine; odbijanje da se dozvoli podnositeljki predstavke u pritvoru da se pripremi i polaže završni ispit na univerzitetu za diplomu pravnika, Georgiou v. Greece (dec.), br. 45138/98, 13. januara 2000. godine; prekid visokih studija zbog pravosnažne osude i kazne, Durmaz and Others v. Turkey (dec.), br. 46506/99, 4. septembra 2001. godine).
  8. U svetlu svega gorenavedenog, jasno je da bilo koje ustanove visokog obrazovanja koje postoje u datom trenutku ulaze u obuhvat prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1, pošto je pravo na pristup takvim ustanovama neodvojivi deo prava utvrđenog tom odredbom. Ovo nije prošireno tumačenje kojim se nameću nove obaveze za države potpisnice: ono je zasnovano upravo na izrazima u prvoj rečenici člana 2 Protokola br. 1 protumačenoj u kontekstu tog člana i s obzirom na cilj i svrhu Konvencije, koja jeste ugovor kojim se formuliše pravo (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Golder v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 21. februara 1975, Serija A br. 18, str. 18, st. 36).
  9. Shodno tome, prva rečenica člana 2 Protokola br. 1 je primenljiva u ovom predmetu. Način na koji se primenjuje će, međutim, očigledno zavisiti od specifičnosti prava na obrazovanje.

C. Meritum

1. Podnesci stranaka pred Velikim većem

(a) Podnositeljka predstavke

  1. Podnositeljka predstavke izjavila je da je zabrana nošenja muslimanske marame koju su uvele javne vlasti očigledno predstavljala mešanje u njeno pravo na obrazovanje, što je imalo za posledicu da joj je bio uskraćen pristup na ispite iz onkologije 12. marta 1998, da je bila sprečena da se upiše u administratvinom odeljenju univerziteta 20. marta 1998. godine i da joj je uskraćen pristup predavanju iz neurologije 16. aprila 1998. godine i pismenom ispitu iz zdravstvene zaštite stanovništva 10. juna 1998. godine.
  2. Ona je prihvatila da pravo na obrazovanje, po svojoj prirodi, mora da reguliše država. Po njenom mišljenju, kriterijumi koji se koriste u propisima treba da budu isti kao kriterijumi koji važe za dozvoljeno mešanje prema članovima 8 do 11 Konvencije. S tim u vezi, ona je ukazala na nepostojanje bilo kakve odredbe u turskom domaćem pravu kojom se sprečava sticanje visokog obrazovanja i izjavila da kabineti prorektora nisu imali nikakvo odobrenje ili ovlašćenje prema važećim zakonima da studentima koji nose marame uskrate pristup univerzitetu.
  3. Podnositeljka predstavke rekla je da je mogla, uprkos tome što je nosila maramu, da se upiše na univerzitet i da četiri i po godine studira na njemu bez incidenata. Stoga je tvrdila da u vreme kada se ona upisala na univerzitet i tokom njenih studija nije postojao nijedan domaći izvor prava koji bi joj omogućio da predvidi da će joj nekoliko godina kasnije biti uskraćen pristup slušaonicama.
  4. Mada je ponovila da su mere preduzete u njenom slučaju bile nesrazmerne s ciljem čijem se ostvarenju težilo, podnositeljka predstavke je prihvatila da je u načelu bilo legitimno da ustanove visokog obrazovanja nastoje da pruže obrazovanje u mirnom i bezbednom okruženju. Međutim, kako pokazuje izostanak bilo kakvog disciplinskog postupka protiv nje, to što je ona nosila muslimansku maramu ni na koji način nije štetilo javnom redu ili kršilo prava i slobode ostalih studenata. Osim toga, prema njenom podnesku, relevantne univerzitetske vlasti su imale dovoljno sredstava na raspolaganju da garantuju održavanje javnog reda, kao što je pokretanje disciplnskog postupka ili podnošenje krivične prijave, ako je ponašanje studenta bilo protivno krivičnom pravu.
  5. Podnositeljka predstavke tvrdila je da je uslovljavanje njenog studiranja time što će odustati od nošenja marame i uskraćivanje pristupa obrazovnim ustanovama u slučaju da odbije da se povinuje tom uslovu efektivno i nezakonito povredilo suštinu njenog prava na obrazovanje i učinilo ga nedelotvornim. Tome može da se doda činjenica da je ona bila odrasla mlada osoba s potpuno razvijenom ličnošću i društvenim i moralnim vrednostima, koja je bila lišena svake mogućnosti da studira u Turskoj na način koji je bio u skladu s njenim uverenjima.
  6. Zbog svih ovih razloga, podnositeljka predstavke je izjavila da je tužena država prekoračila granice svog polja slobodne procene, koliko god ono bilo veliko, i povredila njeno pravo na obrazovanje, protumačeno u svetlu članova 8, 9 i 10 Konvencije.

(b) Država

  1. Pozivajući se na sudsku praksu Suda, država je navela da države potpisnice imaju polje slobodne procene pri određivanju načina na koji će urediti obrazovanje.
  2. Država je dodala da se podnositeljka predstavke upisala na Medicinski fakultet Ćerapaša na Univerzitetu u Istanbulu nakon što je pet godina studirala na Medicinskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Bursi, gde je nosila maramu. Prorektor Univerziteta u Istanbulu izdao je cirkularno pismo kojim se studentima zabranjuje nošenje marame na Univerzitetu. Zabrana je zasnovana na presudama Ustavnog suda i Vrhovnog upravnog suda. Kao što je u predstavki i zahtevu za obraćanje Velikom veću ukazala, podnositeljka predstavke nije imala nikakvih teškoća pri upisivanju na Medicinski fakultet Ćerapaša, što dokazuje da je ona uživala ravnopravnost u postupanju u vezi s pravom na pristup obrazovnim institucijama. Što se tiče mešanja koje je uzrokovano primenom cirkularnog pisma od 23. februara 1998, država se ograničila na izjavu da je isto bilo podvrgnuto sudskoj proveri.
  3. Država je na kraju zatražila da presuda veća bude potvrđena, navodeći da propisi o kojima je reč nisu u suprotnosti sa sudskom praksom Suda, imajući u vidu polje slobodne procene koje je dato državama potpisnicama.

2. Ocena Suda

(a) Opšta načela

  1. Pravo na obrazovanje, utvrđeno u prvoj rečenici člana 2 Protokola br. 1, garantuje svakom licu u nadležnosti država potpisnica „pravo na pristup obrazovnim institucijama koje postoje u datom trenutku“, ali taj pristup predstavlja samo deo prava na obrazovanje. Da bi to pravo „bilo efektivno, nadalje je potrebno da, između ostalog, lice koje je korisnik ima mogućnost da ostvari dobit iz obrazovanja koje je stekao, odnosno, pravo da dobije, u skladu s važećim pravilima u svakoj državi, u ovom ili onom obliku, zvanično priznanje studija koje je završio“ (Belgian Linguistic case, presuda navedena gore, str. 30–32, st. 3–5; videti takođe Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen v. Denmark, presuda od 7. decembra 1976, Serija A br. 23, str. 25–26, st. 52). Takođe, implicitno sadržano u izrazu „niko ne može...“ je načelo ravnopravnosti u postupanju prema svim građanima u korišćenju njihovog prava na obrazovanje.
  2. Osnovno pravo svih na obrazovanje je pravo koje je podjednako zajamčeno učenicima u državnim i nezavisnim školama, bez razlike (Costello-Roberts v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 25. marta 1993, Serija A br. 247-C, str. 58, st. 27).
  3. Uprkos njegovoj važnosti, ovo pravo, međutim, nije apsolutno, već može podlegati ograničenjima; ona su implicitno dozvoljena pošto pravo na pristup „po svojoj prirodi zahteva da ga država reguliše“ (Belgian Linguistic case, presuda gore navedena, str. 32, st. 5; videti takođe, mutatis mutandis, Golder, gore navedena, str. 18–19, st. 38; i Fayed v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 21. septembra 1994, Serija A br. 294-B, str. 49–50, st. 65). Doduše, regulacija obrazovnih institucija može da se razlikuje u različita vremena i na različitim mestima, između ostalog, prema potrebama i resursima zajednice i specifičnostima različitih nivoa obrazovanja. Shodno tome, Države potpisnice imaju određeno polje slobodne procene u ovoj oblasti, mada je konačna odluka u pogledu poštovanja zahteva predviđenih Konvencijom na Sudu. Da bi obezbedio da ograničenja koja se uvode ne sužavaju pravo o kome je reč u takvoj meri da nanesu štetu samoj njegovoj suštini i liše ga efektivnosti, Sud mora da se uveri da su ona predvidljiva za zainteresovana lica i da su u funkciji ostvarivanja legitimnog cilja. Međutim, za razliku od stava u vezi sa članovima od 8 do 11 Konvencije, on nije obavezan potpunim spiskom „legitimnih ciljeva“ prema članu 2 Protokola br. 1 (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Podkolzina v. Latvia, br. 46726/99, st. 36, ECHR 2002-II). Osim toga, neko ograničenje će biti usklađeno sa članom 2 Protokola br. 1 samo ako postoji razuman odnos srazmernosti između sredstava koja su korišćena i cilja čijem se ostvarenju težilo.
  4. Takva ograničenja ne smeju da budu suprotna ni ostalim pravima utvrđenim u Konvenciji i njenim Protokolima (Belgian Linguistic case, presuda gore navedena, str. 32, st. 5; Campbell and Cosans v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 25. februara 1982, Serija A br. 48, str. 19, st. 41; i Yanasik, odluka gore navedena). Odredbe Konvencije i njenih protokola moraju da se razmatraju u celini. Prema tome, prva rečenica člana 2 mora, u slučajevima kada je to celishodno, da bude tumačena naročito u svetlu članova 8, 9 i 10 Konvencije (Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen, presuda gore navedena, str. 26, st. 52 in fine).
  5. Pravo na obrazovanje u načelu ne isključuje mogućnost da se pribegne disciplinskim merama, uključujući suspenziju ili isključenje iz obrazovne institucije da bi se obezbedilo poštovanje internih pravila te institucije. Uvođenje disciplinskih kazni je sastavni deo procesa u kome škola nastoji da ostvari cilj zbog koga je osnovana, uključujući i razvoj i oblikovanje karaktera i duhovnih sposobnosti njenih đaka (vidi, među drugim izvorima, Campbell and Cosans, presudu gore navedena, str. 14, st. 33; videti, takođe, u vezi s isključivanjem kadeta s vojne akademije, Yanasik, odluku gore navedenu, i isključenje studenta zbog prevare, Sulak, odlukugore navedenu).

(b) Primena ovih načela na ovaj slučaj

  1. Na osnovu analogije sa svojim obrazloženjem po pitanju postojanja mešanja u skladu sa članom 9 (vidi gore stav 78), Sud može da prihvati da su propisi na osnovu kojih je podnositeljki predstavke bio uskraćen pristup raznim predavanjima i ispitima zbog toga što je nosila muslimansku maramu predstavljali ograničenje njenog prava na obrazovanje, bez obzira na činjenicu da je ona imala pristup Univerzitetu i da je mogla da studira predmet po svom izboru u skladu s rezultatima koje je postigla na prijemnom ispitu za univerzitet. Međutim, analiza predmeta pozivanjem na pravo na obrazovanje u ovom slučaju ne može da bude razdvojena od zaključka do koga je Sud došao u vezi sa članom 9 (vidi gore stav 122), pošto su razlozi uzeti u obzir prema toj odredbi očigledno primenljivi na tužbu po članu 2 Protokola br. 1, a koja sadrži kritiku propisa o kome je reč koja ima gotovo istu formu kao i tužba podneta u vezi sa članom 9.
  2. S tim u vezi, Sud je već utvrdio da je ograničenje bilo predvidljivo za zainteresovana lica i da je uvedeno u cilju ostvarivanja legitimnih ciljeva zaštite prava i slobode drugih i održavanja javnog reda (vidi gore stavove 98 i 99). Očigledna svrha ograničenja bila je da se sačuva sekularni karakter obrazovnih institucija.
  3. Što se tiče načela srazmernosti, Sud je utvrdio gore u stavovima 118 do 121 da je postojao razuman odnos srazmernosti između sredstava koja su korišćena i cilja čijem se ostvarenju težilo. U tom utvrđivanju, on se oslonio konkretno na sledeće faktore koji su očigledno relevantni ovde. Prvo, mere koje su u pitanju nesumnjivo nisu ometale studente u ispunjavanju dužnosti koje nameću uobičajeni verski obredi. Drugo, proces odlučivanja o primeni internih propisa zadovoljio je, u meri u kojoj je to bilo moguće, uslov da odmeri razne interese o kojima se ovde radilo. Univerzitetske vlasti su bile razborite u traženju sredstva kojim bi mogle da izbegnu situacije u kojima bi morale da vrate studente koji nose marame, a da u isto vreme ispune svoju obavezu da zaštite prava drugih i interese obrazovnog sistema. Na kraju, čini se da je proces bio praćen i zaštitnim mehanizmima – pravilo kojim se zahteva usklađenost sa zakonom i sudsko preispitivanje – koji su bili prikladni da zaštite interese studenata (vidi gore stav 95).
  4. Osim toga, bilo bi nerealno zamisliti da podnositeljka predstavke, koja je bila student medicine, nije znala za unutrašnje propise Univerziteta u Istanbulu kojima se ograničavaju mesta na kojima se može nositi verska odeća ili da nije bila dovoljno obaveštena o razlozima za njihovo uvođenje. Osnovano je zaključiti da je ona mogla da predvidi da je postojao rizik da joj bude uskraćen pristup predavanjima i ispitima ako, kao što se kasnije i dogodilo, nastavi da nosi muslimansku maramu posle 23. februara 1998. godine.
  5. Shodno tome, ograničenje o kom je reč nije nanelo štetu samoj suštini prava podnositeljke predstavke na obrazovanje. Dodatno, u svetlu svojih zaključaka u pogledu ostalih članova na koje se podnositeljka predstavke oslonila (vidi gore stav 122 i stav 166 koji sledi), Sud napominje da ograničenje nije bilo u suprotnosti ni s drugim pravima utvrđenim u Konvenciji ili njenim protokolima.
  6. Na kraju, nije bilo nikakvog kršenja prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1.

III. NAVODNA KRŠENJA ČLANOVA 8, 10 i 14 KONVENCIJE

  1. Kao što je učinila pred većem, podnositeljka predstavke tvrdila je da su prekršeni članovi 8, 10 i 14 Konvencije, tvrdeći da su osporeni propisi ugrozili njeno pravo na poštovanje njenog privatnog života i njeno pravo na slobodu izražavanja i da su diskriminatorni.
  2. Sud, međutim, ne smatra da je došlo do bilo kakvog kršenja članova 8 ili 10 Konvencije, pri čemu su argumenti koje je iznela podnositeljka predstavke bili ništa drugo do preformulisanje njene tužbe prema članu 9 Konvencije i članu 2 Protokola br. 1, u vezi s kojima je Sud zaključio da nije bilo nikakvog kršenja.
  3. Što se tiče tužbe prema članu 14, uzetog pojedinačno ili zajedno sa članom 9 Konvencije ili prvom rečenicom člana 2 Protokola br. 1, Sud konstatuje da podnositeljka predstavke nije iznela detaljne pojedinosti u njenim podnescima pred Velikim većem. Osim toga, kao što je i ranije konstatovano (vidi gore stavove 99 i 158), propisi o muslimanskoj marami nisu bili upereni protiv verske pripadnosti podnositeljke predstavke, već se njima težilo, između ostalog, ostvarenju legitimnog cilja zaštite reda i prava i sloboda drugih i bili su nesumnjivo namenjeni očuvanju sekularne prirode obrazovnih institucija. Shodno tome, razlozi kojima se Sud rukovodio kada je zaključio da nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije ili člana 2 Protokola br. 1 takođe se nepobitno odnose na tužbu prema članu 14, uzetom pojedinačno ili zajedno s gorepomenutim odredbama.
  4. Shodno tome, Sud smatra da nije bilo kršenja članova 8, 10 ili 14 Konvencije.

IZ OVIH RAZLOGA, SUD

  1. Zaključuje, sa šesnaest glasova za i jednim protiv, da nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije;
  2. Zaključuje, sa šesnaest glasova za i jednim protiv, da nije bilo kršenja prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1;
  3. Zaključuje, jednoglasno, da nije bilo kršenja člana 8. Konvencije;
  4. Zaključuje, jednoglasno, da nije bilo kršenja člana 10 Konvencije;
  5. Zaključuje, jednoglasno, da nije bilo kršenja člana 14 Konvencije.

Sačinjeno na engleskom i francuskom jeziku i izrečeno na javnoj raspravi u zgradi Suda u Strazburu 10. novembra 2005. godine.

                        Luzijus Vildhaber                                       T. L. Erli

                              Predsednik                                     Zamenik sekretara

U skladu sa članom 45, stav 2 Konvencije i pravilom 74 stav 2 Poslovnika Suda, uz ovu presudu se prilažu i sledeća zasebna mišljenja:

  1. zajedničko saglasno mišljenje g. Rozakisa i gđe Vajić;
  2. izdvojeno mišljenje gđe Tulkens.

L. W. T. L. E.

SAGLASNO MIŠLJENJE SUDIJA ROZAKIS I VAJIĆ

Slažemo se s većinom da u ovom predmetu nije bilo kršenja člana 9 Konvencije. Takođe smo glasali za zaključak da nije bilo kršenja prve rečenice člana 2 Protokola br. 1 uglavnom zbog toga što je tekst presude tako formulisan da je teško razdvojiti ova dva zaključka. Kao što je navedeno u presudi „... analiza predmeta pozivanjem na pravo na obrazovanje u ovom slučaju ne može da bude razdvojena od zaključka do koga se došlo u vezi sa članom 9...., pošto su razlozi uzeti u obzir prema toj odredbi očigledno primenljivi na tužbu po članu 2 Protokola br. 1, a koja sadrži kritiku propisa o kome je reč koja ima gotovo istu formu kao i tužba podneta u vezi sa članom 9.“ (stav 157).

U stvarnosti, međutim, mislimo da bi bilo bolje da se predmet rešavao samo u skladu sa članom 9, kako je to učinjeno u presudi veća. Prema našem viđenju stvari, glavno pitanje pred Sudom bilo je mešanje države u pravo podnositeljke predstavke da nosi maramu na Univerzitetu i da kroz to javno ispoljava svoja verska uverenja. Stoga je središnje pitanje u ovom predmetu bila zaštita njenih verskih sloboda predviđenih članom 9 Konvencije. Član 9 je očigledno, u datim okolnostima, lex specialis kojim se obuhvataju činjenice u ovom predmetu, i posledičnom tužbom podnositeljke predstavke koja se odnosi na iste činjenice prema članu 2 Protokola br. 1, mada evidentno prihvatljivom, ne pokreće se neko posebno pitanje prema Konvenciji.

 

IZDVOJENO MIŠLJENJE SUDIJE TULKENS (Prevod)

Zbog niza razloga koji potkrepljuju jedni druge nisam glasala s većinom o pitanju člana 9 Konvencije i člana 2 Protokola br. 1, koji se odnosi na pravo na obrazovanje. Međutim, ja se ipak u potpunosti slažem s odlukom Suda da se obim ove druge odredbe proteže i na visoko i univerzitetsko obrazovanje.

A. Sloboda veroispovesti

  1. Što se tiče opštih načela koja su ponovljena u presudi postoje delovi u vezi s kojima se veoma slažem s većinom (vidi stavove 104 do 108 presude). Pravo na slobodu veroispovesti zajemčeno članom 9 Konvencije je „dragoceno preimućstvo“ ne samo za vernike, već i za ateiste, agnostike, skeptike i nezainteresovane. Tačno je da član 9 Konvencije ne štiti svaki čin koji je motivisan ili inspirisan verom ili uverenjem i da u demokratskim društvima, u kojima koegzistira nekoliko veroispovesti, može da bude potrebno da se uvedu ograničenja slobode da se ispoljava vera kako bi se uskladili interesi raznih grupa i osiguralo poštovanje uverenja svakog lica (vidi stav 106 presude). Nadalje, pluralizam, tolerancija i slobodoumnost su obeležja demokratskog društva i to povlači određene posledice. Prva je ta da ovi ideali i vrednosti demokratskog društva takođe moraju da budu zasnovani na dijalogu i duhu kompromisa, koji nužno povlači uzajamne ustupke od strane pojedinaca. Druga je da uloga vlasti u takvim okolnostima nije da otklone uzrok napetosti ukidajući pluralizam, već, kao što je Sud nedavno još jednom ponovio, da se postaraju da konkurentske grupe jedna drugu tolerišu (Ouranio Toxo and Others v. Greece, presuda od 20. oktobra 2005, st. 40).
  2. Onog trenutka kada je većina prihvatila da je zabrana nošenja muslimanske marame u prostorijama univerziteta predstavljala mešanje u pravo podnositeljke predstavke shodno članu 9 Konvencije da ispoljava svoju veru, i da je zabrana propisana zakonom i uvedena u cilju ostvarivanja legitimnog cilja – u ovom slučaju zaštite prava i sloboda drugih i javnog reda – glavno pitanje postalo je da li je takvo mešanje bilo „neophodno u demokratskom društvu“. Zbog njegove prirode, preispitivanje od strane Suda mora da bude sprovedeno in concreto, u načelu pozivanjem na tri kriterijuma: prvo, da li je mešanje, koje mora da bude takvo da može da zaštiti legitimni interes koji je ugrožen, bilo celishodno; drugo, da li je mera koja je bila odabrana mera koja je najmanje restriktivna po pravo ili slobodu o kojima je reč; i, konačno, da li je mera bila srazmerna, što je pitanje koje povlači usklađivanje ravnoteže između konkurentskih interesa.[2]

U osnovi pristupa većine nalazi se polje slobodne procene za koje se nacionalnim vlastima priznaje da ga imaju i koje odražava, između ostalog, koncept da su one „u boljoj poziciji“ da odluče o najboljem načinu za ispunjavanje njihovih obaveza prema Konvenciji u onome što je osetljiva oblast (vidi stav 109 presude). Nadležnost Suda je, naravno, supsidijarna i njegova uloga nije da nameće jednoobrazna rešenja, naročito „u pogledu uspostavljanja delikatnih odnosa između crkava i države“ (Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France, presuda od 27. juna 2000, st. 84), čak i ako, u nekim drugim presudama koje su se odnosile na sukobe između verskih zajednica, Sud nije uvek pokazivao istu sudsku uzdržanost (Serif v. Greece, presuda od 14. decembra 1999. godine; Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia and Others v. Moldova, presuda od 13. decembra 2001. godine). Stoga se u potpunosti slažem sa stavom da Sud mora da nastoji da uskladi univerzalnost i različitost i da nije njegova uloga da izražava mišljenje o bilo kom verskom modelu.

  1. Možda sam i mogla da sledim pristup zasnovan na polju slobodne procene da nije bilo dva faktora koja su drastično umanjila njegovu relevantnost u ovom slučaju. Prvi se odnosi na argument koji većina koristi da opravda širinu tog polja, i to različitost prakse od države do države u vezi s pitanjem regulisanja nošenja verskih simbola u obrazovnim institucijama i, stoga, nepostojanje evropskog konsenzusa u ovoj oblasti. Materijali u oblasti komparativnog prava ne dozvoljavaju takav zaključak, pošto se ni u jednoj od država članica zabrana nošenja verskih simbola nije protezala na univerzitetsko obrazovanje, koje je namenjeno mladim odraslim osobama, koje su manje podložne pritisku. Drugi faktor odnosi se na evropski nadzor koji mora da prati polje slobodne procene i koji, iako manje sveobuhvatan nego u slučajevima u kojima nacionalne vlasti nemaju nikakvo polje slobodne procene, ide ruku pod ruku s njim. Međutim, osim u vezi sa specifičnim istorijskim kontekstom Turske, jednostavno se čini da je evropski nadzor odsutan iz presude. Međutim, pitanje koje je pokrenuto u predstavci, čiji je značaj za pravo na slobodu veroispovesti garantovano Konvencijom očigledan, nije samo „lokalno“ pitanje, već važno pitanje za sve države članice. Evropski nadzor stoga ne može da se izbegne jednostavnim pozivanjem na polje slobodne procene.
  2. Na kojim razlozima je bilo zasnovano mešanje u pravo podnositeljke predstavke na slobodu veroispovesti putem zabrane nošenja marame? U ovom predmetu, oslanjajući se isključivo na razloge koje su navele nacionalne vlasti i sudovi, većina je iznela, u načelnim i apstraktnim izrazima, dva glavna argumenta: sekularizam i jednakost. Iako ja potpuno i bezrezervno podržavam svako od ovih načela, ne slažem se s načinom na koji su ona bila primenjena ovde i na način na koji su bila tumačena u vezi s običajem nošenja marame. Verujem da je u demokratskom društvu, neophodno nastojati da se usaglase načela sekularizma, jednakosti i slobode, a ne određivati da li je jedno važnije od drugog.
  3. Što se tiče, najpre, sekularizma, ponovila bih da smatram da je to suštinsko načelo i načelo koje je, kao što je Ustavni sud naveo u svojoj presudi od 7. marta 1989, nesumnjivo neophodno za zaštitu demokratskog sistema u Turskoj. Verske slobode su, međutim, i temeljno načelo demokratskih društava. Prema tome, činjenica da je Veliko veće prepoznalo snagu načela sekularizma nije ga oslobodila obaveze da utvrdi da je zabrana nošenja muslimanske marame kojoj je podnositeljka predstavke bila izvrgnuta bila neophodna da bi se obezbedilo poštovanje tog načela, i da je zato „nužnu društvenu potrebu“. Samo nesporne činjenice i razlozi čija je legitimnost izvan svake sumnje – ne obične brige ili strahovi – mogu da zadovolje taj zahtev i opravdaju mešanje u pravo garantovano Konvencijom. Nadalje, u slučajevima u kojima je došlo do mešanja u osnovno pravo, sudskom praksom Suda jasno je utvrđeno da puke tvrdnje nisu dovoljne: one moraju da budu potkrepljene konkretnim primerima (Smith and Grady v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 27. septembra 1999, st. 89). Čini se da takvi primeri u ovom predmetu nisu bili navedeni.
  4. Prema članu 9 Konvencije, sloboda o kojoj je reč u ovom predmetu nije sloboda da se ima vera (unutrašnje ubeđenje) već da se ta vera ispoljava (izražavanje tog ubeđenja). Mada je Sud bio veoma zaštitnički nastrojen (možda i previše zaštitnički) prema verskim osećanjima (Otto-Preminger-Institut v. Austria, presuda od 20. septembra 1994. godine; Wingrove v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 25. novembra 1996. godine), pokazao je da je manje voljan da interveniše u predmetima koji se odnose na verske običaje (Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France, presuda od 27. juna 2000. godine; Dahlab v. Switzerland, odluka od 15. februara 2001. godine), u kojima je, kako se čini, dat samo supsidijarni oblik zaštite (vidi stav 105 presude). Ovo je, zapravo, aspekt slobode veroispovesti s kojim se Sud retko suočavao do sada i o kome još uvek nije imao prilike da formira mišljenje u vezi sa spoljnim simbolima ispoljavanja vere, kao što su određeni odevni predmeti, čija simbolička važnost može jako da varira u zavisnosti od veroispovesti o kojoj je reč.[3]
  5. Pozivajući se na presudu u predmetu Refah Partisi and Others v. Turkey od 13. februara 2003, u presudi se navodi: „Stav koji ne poštuje to načelo [sekularizma] neće nužno biti prihvaćen kao stav koji je obuhvaćen slobodom ispoljavanja vere“ (vidi stav 114). Većina tako smatra da je nošenje marame u suprotnosti s načelom sekularizma. Smatrajući to, oni zauzimaju stav o pitanju koje je bilo predmet velikih rasprava, naime o značenju nošenja marame i o tome u kakvom je ono odnosu prema načelu sekularizma.[4]

U ovom predmetu, jedna generalizovana ocena tog tipa stvara najmanje tri teškoće. Prvo, presuda se ne bavi argumentom podnositeljke predstavke – koji država nije osporila – da ona nije imala nikakvu nameru da dovede u sumnju načelo sekularizma, što je načelo s kojim se ona slaže. Drugo, nema nikakvih dokaza koji bi pokazali da je podnositeljka predstavke, kroz svoj stav, ponašanje ili dela, pobijala to načelo. To je test koji je Sud uvek primenjivao u svojoj sudskoj praksi (Kokkinakis v. Greece, presuda od 25. maja 1993. godine; United Communist Party of Turkey and Others v. Turkey, presuda od 30. januara 1998. godine). Konačno, u presudi se ne pravi nikakva razlika između nastavnika i studenata, dok je u odluci u predmetu Dahlab v. Switzerland od 15. februara 2001, koja se odnosila na nastavnicu, Sud izričito konstatovao aspekt modela ponašanja koji je imalo nošenja marame od strane nastavnice (str. 14). Mada načelo sekularizma iziskuje da obrazovanje bude pruženo bez bilo kakvog ispoljavanja vere i iako to mora da bude obavezno za nastavnike i sve državne činovnike, pošto su oni dobrovoljno stupili na svoje funkcije u neutralnom okruženju, meni se čini da je položaj učenika i studenata drugačiji.

  1. Sloboda da se ispoljava vera povlači da svakom bude dozvoljeno da koristi to pravo, bilo pojedinačno ili kolektivno, javno ili privatno, pod dvojnim uslovom da ne krše prava i slobode drugih i da ne remete javni red (čl. 9 st. 2).

Što se tiče prvog uslova, on je mogao da bude zadovoljen da je marama koju je podnositeljka predstavke nosila kao verski simbol bila upadljiva ili agresivna ili da je bila korišćena da se vrši pritisak, izazove reakcija, prozelitizira ili širi propaganda i da je podrivala – ili je bilo verovatno da će podrivati – ubeđenja drugih. Međutim, država nije tvrdila da je bilo tako i nije bilo nikakvih dokaza pred Sudom koji bi ukazivali na to da je gđica Šahin imala bilo kakvu nameru te vrste. Što se tiče drugog uslova, nije bilo niti ukazano niti pokazano da je došlo do bilo kakvog remećenja nastave ili svakodnevnog života na Univerzitetu, ili bilo kakvog nedoličnog ponašanja, kao posledica toga što je podnositeljka predstavke nosila maramu. Zaista, nikakav disciplinski postupak nije pokrenut protiv nje.

  1. Međutim, većina smatra, da „pri razmatranju pitanja muslimanske marame u kontekstu Turske mora se imati na umu uticaj koji nošenje takvog simbola, koji se predstavlja ili doživljava kao obavezna verska dužnost, može da ima na one koji odluče da je ne nose“ (vidi stav 115 presude).

Osim ako nivo zaštite prava na slobodu veroispovesti nije smanjen da bi se uzeo u obzir kontekst, meni se ne čini da mogući efekat koji nošenje marame, koje je predstavljeno kao simbol, može da ima na one koji je ne nose, u svetlu sudske prakse Suda, zadovoljava uslov goruće društvene potrebe. Mutatis mutandis, u oblasti slobode izražavanja (član 10), Sud nije nikad prihvatao da mešanje u korišćenje prava na slobodu izražavanja može da bude opravdano činjenicom da ideje ili stavove o kojima je reč ne dele svi i da čak mogu da uvrede neke ljude. Nedavno je Sud, u presudi Gündüz v. Turkey od 4. decembra 2003, smatrao da je došlo do kršenja slobode izražavanja u predmetu u kojem je muslimanski verski vođa bio osuđen zbog toga što je žestoko kritikovao sekularni režim u Turskoj, pozivajući na uvođenje šerijatskog prava i nazivajući decu rođenu u brakovima sklopljenim isključivo pred sekularnim vlastima „kopilad“. Tako ispoljavanje vere mirnim nošenjem marame može da bude zabranjeno dok, u istom kontekstu, izjave koje mogu da budu shvaćene kao raspirivanje verske mržnje bivaju obuhvaćene slobodom izražavanja.[5]

  1. Zapravo, upravo je pretnja koju predstavljaju „ekstremistički politički pokreti“ koji nastoje da „nametnu čitavom društvu svoje verske simbole i koncepciju društva utemeljenog na verskim propisima“ ta koja, po mišljenju Suda, služi da opravda propise o kojima je reč, koji predstavljaju „meru čiji je cilj da.... očuva pluralizam na univerzitetu“ (vidi stav 115 presude,in fine). Sud je već jasno stavio to do znanja u svojoj presudi u predmetu Refah Partisi and Others v. Turkey od 13. februara 2003, kada je naveo: „U zemlji kao što je Turska, gde velika većina stanovništva pripada određenoj veri, mere koje se preduzimaju na univerzitetima da bi se sprečili određeni fundamentalistički verski pokreti da vrše pritisak na studente koji ne upražnjavaju tu veru ili na one koji pripadaju nekoj drugoj veri mogu da budu opravdani u skladu sa članom 9, stav 2 Konvencije“ (stav 95).

Mada se svi slažu da postoji potreba da se spreči radikalni islamizam, takvom razmišljanju ipak može da se stavi jedna ozbiljna primedba. Obično nošenje marame ne može se povezati s fundamentalizmom i od suštinske je važnosti praviti razliku između onih koji nose maramu i „ekstremista“ koji nastoje da nametnu maramu kao što to čine i s drugim verskim simbolima. Nisu sve žene koje nose maramu fundamentalistkinje i ne postoji ništa što bi ukazivalo da podnositeljka predstavke ima fundamentalističke stavove. Ona je mlada odrasla žena i student univerziteta i od nje se može osnovano očekivati da ima povećanu sposobnost da odoli pritisku, pri čemu se može konstatovati s tim u vezi da presuda ne daje nikakve konkretne primere vrste pritiska o kome je reč. Lični interes podnositeljke predstavke za ostvarivanje prava na slobodu veroispovesti i na ispoljavanje svoje vere nekim spoljnim simbolom ne može da bude potpuno utopljen u opšti interes borbe protiv ekstremizma.[6]

  1. Vraćajući se na ravnopravnost, većina se usredsređuje na zaštitu prava žena i načelo ravnopravnosti polova (vidi stavove 115 i 116 presude). Obrnutim impliciranjem, nošenje marame smatra se sinonimom otuđenja žena. Stoga se zabrana nošenja marame smatra nečim što unapređuje ravnopravnost između muškaraca i žena. Međutim, kakva je zapravo veza između zabrane i ravnopravnosti polova? U presudi se to ne kaže. Zaista, kakvo je značenje nošenja marame? Kao što je nemački Ustavni sud konstatovao u svojoj presudi od 24. septembra 2003,[7] nošenje marame nema jedno jedino značenje; to je običaj koji se upražnjava iz čitavog niza razloga. Ono ne simbolizuje nužno pokornost žena u odnosu na muškarce, a postoje i oni koji smatraju da, u određenim slučajevima, to čak može da bude i sredstvo emancipacije žena. Ono što u ovoj raspravi nedostaje je mišljenje žena, kako onih koje nose maramu, tako i onih koje su odlučile da to ne čine.
  2. U vezi s ovim pitanjem, Veliko veće se poziva na svoju odluku u presudi u predmetu Dahlab v. Switzerland od 15. februara 2001, navodeći ono što je po meni najproblematičniji deo obrazloženja u toj odluci, naime da nošenje marame predstavlja „snažan spoljni simbol“, koji je „izgleda nametnut ženama verskim propisom koji je bilo teško uskladiti s načelom rodne ravnopravnosti“ i da se ovaj običaj ne može lako „uskladiti s porukom tolerancije, poštovanja drugih i iznad svega jednakošću i nediskriminacijom koju svi nastavnici u demokratskom društvu treba da prenesu svojim učenicima“ (vidi stav 111 presude, in fine).

Uloga Suda nije da vrši procenu ovog tipa – u ovom slučaju jednostranu i negativnu – vere ili verskog običaja, kao što njegova uloga nije ni da određuje na uopšten i apstraktan način značenje nošenja marame ili da nameće svoje stanovište podnositeljki predstavke. Podnositeljka predstavke, odrasla mlada studentkinja univerziteta, izjavila je – a ne postoji ništa što bi ukazivalo da nije govorila istinu – da je po svojoj slobodnoj volji nosila maramu. S tim u vezi, ne vidim kako načelo ravnopravnosti polova može da opravda zabranjivanje ženi da upražnjava neki običaj, za koji se, u odsustvu dokaza o suprotnom, mora verovati da ga je slobodno usvojila. Jednakost i nediskriminacija su subjektivna prava koja moraju da ostanu pod kontrolom onih koji imaju prava da ih koriste. „Paternalizam“ ove vrste suprotan je sudskoj praksi Suda, u okviru koje se razvilo istinsko pravo na ličnu autonomiju na osnovu člana 8 (Keenan v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 3. aprila 2001, st. 92; Pretty v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 29. aprila 2002, st. 65–6; Christine Goodwin v. the United Kingdom, presuda od 11. jula 2002, st. 90).[8] Konačno, kad bi nošenje marame stvarno bilo u suprotnosti s načelom ravnopravnosti muškaraca i žena u svakom slučaju, država bi imala pozitivnu obavezu da to zabrani svuda, bilo u javnosti ili privatno.[9]

  1. Pošto, po meni, zabrana nošenja muslimanske marame u prostorijama univerziteta nije bila zasnovana na razlozima koji su bili relevantni i dovoljni, ona se ne može smatrati mešanjem koje je bilo „neophodno u demokratskom društvu“ u smislu člana 9, stav 2 Konvencije. U ovim okolnostima, došlo je do povrede prava podnositeljke predstavke na slobodu veroispovesti, zajamčenog Konvencijom.

B. Pravo na obrazovanje

  1. Kako je većina odlučila da tužba podnositeljke predstavke treba da bude razmatrana i u skladu sa članom 2 Protokola br. 1, ja se u potpunosti slažem sa stavom, koji je već bio izražen u izveštaju Komisije u Slučaju „koji se odnosio na određene aspekte zakona o upotrebi jezika u obrazovanju u Belgiji“ od 24. juna 1965, da ta odredba važi i za visoko i univerzitetsko obrazovanje. U toj presudi se ispravno ističe da „ne postoji čvrsta podela kojom se visoko obrazovanje odvaja od ostalih oblika obrazovanja“ i pridružuje se Savetu Evrope u ponovnom isticanju „ključne uloge i važnosti visokog obrazovanja u unapređivanju ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda i jačanju demokratije“ (vidi stav 136 presude). Štaviše, pošto pravo na obrazovanje znači pravo svih da koriste obrazovne objekte, Veliko veće konstatuje da će država koja je osnovala ustanove visokog obrazovanja „biti u obavezi da dodeli efektivno pravo pristupa [takvim objektivima]“, bez diskriminacije (vidi stav 137 presude).
  2. Međutim, iako Veliko veće naglašava da je u demokratskom društvu pravo na obrazovanje nezaobilazno u unapređivanju ljudskih prava (vidi stav 137 presude), iznenađujuće je i za žaljenje što je potom nastavilo da postupa tako što je lišilo podnositeljke predstavke tog prava iz razloga koji se meni ne čine ni relevantnim ni dovoljnim. Podnositeljka predstavke nije, iz razloga vezanih za veru, tražila da bude oslobođena određenih aktivnosti ili zahtevala promene univerzitetskog kursa na koji se upisala kao student (za razliku od stava u predmetu Kjeldsen, Busk, Madsen and Pedersen v. Denmark, presuda od 7. decembra 1976). Ona je jednostavno želela da završi svoje studije u uslovima koji su preovlađivali kada se prvi put upisala na Univerzitet i tokom početnih godina njene univerzitetske karijere, kada je mogla slobodno da nosi maramu bez ikakvih problema. Smatram da je time što je podnositeljki predstavke uskraćen pristup predavanjima i ispitima koji su bili deo kursa na Medicinskom fakultetu, ona de facto lišena prava na pristup Univerzitetu i, shodno tome, njenog prava na obrazovanje.
  3. Veliko veće je „analogijom“ usvojilo svoje obrazloženje o postojanju mešanja prema članu 9 Konvencije i utvrdilo da analiza pozivanjem na pravo na obrazovanje „u ovom slučaju ne može da bude razdvojena od zaključaka do koga je Sud došao u vezi sa članom 9“, pošto su razlozi uzeti u obzir prema toj odredbi „očigledno primenljivi na tužbu po članu 2 Protokola br. 1“ (vidi stav 15 presude). U ovim okolnostima, smatram da je veće bez sumnje bilo u pravu u svojoj presudi od 30. novembra 2004. godine kada je bilo mišljenja da se nikakvo „odvojeno pitanje“ nije javilo u prema članu 2 Protokola br. 1, jer su relevantne okolnosti i argumenti bili isti kao oni koje je ono razmatralo u vezi sa članom 9, u pogledu koga ono nije ustanovilo nikakvu povredu.

Kakav god da je stav, ja nisam potpuno uverena da je obrazloženje u vezi s verskim slobodama „očigledno primenljivo“ na pravo na obrazovanje. Doduše, ovo drugo pravo nije apsolutno i može da podleže implicitnim ograničenjima, pod uslovom da ona ne sužavaju pravo o kom je reč u takvoj meri da nanose štetu samoj njegovoj suštini i lišavaju ga njegove delotvornosti. Takva ograničenja ne mogu ni da budu u suprotnosti s drugim pravima sadržanim u Konvenciji, čije odredbe moraju da budu razmotrene u celini. Nadalje, polje slobodne procene je uže za negativne obaveze i Sud mora, u svakom slučaju, da utvrdi, kao poslednje sredstvo, da li su zahtevi iz Konvencije ispunjeni. Na kraju, ograničenje će biti u skladu s pravom na obrazovanje samo ako postoji razuman odnos srazmernosti između upotrebljenih sredstava i cilja čijem se ostvarenju teži.

  1. Kakav je bio stav u ovom predmetu? Ja neću ovde da vodim raspravu o pravu na slobodu veroispovesti, već ću se ograničiti na to da istaknem dodatne elemente koji se odnose na srazmernost ograničenja prava podnositeljke predstavke na obrazovanje koja su bila uvedena.

Počela bih konstatacijom da je trebalo da vlasti, pre nego što su podnositeljki predstavke uskratili pristup predavanjima i ispitima, iskoriste druga sredstva, bilo da je podstaknu (na primer, putem medijacije) da skine maramu i nastavi svoje studije, ili da se postaraju da javni red bude održan u prostorijama univerziteta, ako je zaista bio ugrožen.[10] Činjenica je da nije učinjen nikakav pokušaj da se proba s merama koje bi imale manje drastičan efekat na pravo na obrazovanje podnositeljke predstavke u ovom predmetu. Druga stvar koju želim da istaknem je da je opšte poznato da su, time što su podnositeljki predstavke uslovile nastavak studiranja skidanjem marame i što joj je uskraćen pristup univerzitetu ako ne ispuni uslove, vlasti prinudile podnositeljki predstavke da napusti zemlju i završi svoje studije na Univerzitetu u Beču. Na taj način joj nije ostavljena nikakva alternativa. Međutim, u presudi u predmetu Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France od 27. juna 2000. godine postojanje alternativnih rešenja bio je jedan od faktora koje je Sud uzeo u obzir kada je smatrao da nije došlo do kršenja Konvencije (stavovi 80 i 81). Na kraju, Veliko veće ne vaga konkurentske interese, naime, s jedne strane, štete koju je podnela podnositeljka predstavke – koja ne samo da je bila lišena bilo kakve mogućnosti da završi svoje studije u Turskoj zbog njenih verskih ubeđenja već takođe misli da je malo verovatno da će moći da se vrati u svoju zemlju da se bavi svojom profesijom zbog teškoća koje tamo postoje u priznavanju stranih diploma – i, s druge, koristi koju će imati tursko društvo od zabranjivanja podnositeljki predstavke da nosi maramu u prostorijama univerziteta.

U ovim okolnostima, može se osnovano tvrditi da je isključenje podnositeljke predstavke s predavanja i ispita i, posledično, sa samog Univerziteta, učinilo njeno pravo na obrazovanje nedelotvornim i, stoga, nanelo štetu samoj suštini tog prava.

  1. Takođe se javlja pitanje da li se takvo kršenje prava na obrazovanje, u konačnom, ne izjednačava s implicitnim prihvatanjem diskriminacije podnositeljke predstavke po osnovu vere. U svojoj rezoluciji br. 1464(2005) od 4. oktobra 2005, Parlamentarna skupština Saveta Evrope podsetila je države članice da je važno: „potpuno zaštiti sve žene koje žive u državama članicama od povreda njihovih prava zasnovanih na veri ili pripisanih istoj“.
  2. Što je još bitnije, prihvatajući isključenje podnositeljke predstavke s Univerziteta u ime sekularizma i jednakosti, većina je prihvatila njeno isključenje iz upravo one vrste oslobođene sredine u kojoj pravo značenje ovih vrednosti može da dobije oblik i da se razvije. Univerzitet daje praktičan pristup znanju, koji je slobodan i nezavisan od svake vlasti. Iskustvo ove vrste je daleko delotvornije sredstvo za podizanje nivoa svesti o načelima sekularizma i jednakosti nego obaveza koja nije preuzeta dobrovoljno već je nametnuta. Dijalog zasnovan na toleranciji između vera i kultura je obrazovanje samo po sebi, tako da je ironično da mlade žene treba da budu lišene tog obrazovanja zbog marame. Zagovaranje slobode i ravnopravnosti za žene ne može da znači lišavanje žena prilike da odlučuju o svojoj budućnosti. Zabrane i isključenja odražavaju taj isti fundamentalizam protiv koga ove mere treba da se bore. I ovde, kao i bilo gde drugde, rizici su poznati: radikalizacija uverenja, prećutno isključivanje, povratak verskim školama. Kada ih odbaci zakon zemlje, mlade žene su prinuđene da nađu pribežište u svom sopstvenom zakonu. Kao što svi znamo, netrpeljivost rađa netrpeljivost.
  3. Završavam konstatujući da sva ova pitanja moraju da budu razmotrena i u svetlu komentara iznetih u izveštaju o godišnjoj aktivnosti Evropske komisije protiv rasizma i netrpeljivosti (ECRI) objavljenom u junu 2005, u kojem se izražava zabrinutost zbog klime neprijateljstva koja postoji protiv osoba koje su ili za koje se veruje da su muslimani i smatra da situacija iziskuje pažnju i delovanje u budućnosti[11]. Iznad svega, poruka koja treba da se neprestano ponavlja je da je najbolje sredstvo za sprečavanje i borbu protiv fanatizma i ekstremizma unapređivanje ljudskih prava.

 ***

[1] Institucije visokog obrazovanja u Francuskoj, koje se nalaze izvan sistema državnih univerziteta i za razliku od njih vrše upis malog broja studenata koji najpre pohađaju pripremnu nastavu a potom polažu usmene i pismene prijemne ispite (prim. ur).

[2] S. Van Drooghenbroeck, La proportionnalité dans le droit de la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme. Prendre l’idée simple au sérieux, Brussels, Bruylant, 2001.

[3] E. Brems, „The Approach of the European Court of Human Rights to Religion“, in Th. Marauhn (ed.), Die Rechtsstellung des Menschen im Völkerrecht. Entwicklungen und Perspektiven, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2003, str. 1 et seq.

[4] E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, „Le voile à l’école: une Europe divisée,“ Revue trimestrielle des droits de l’homme, 2004, str. 958.

[5] S. Van Drooghenbroeck, „Strasbourg et le voile“, Journal du juriste, 2004, br. 34, str. 10.

[6]E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, „Le voile à l’école: une Europe divisée“, op. cit., str. 960.

[7] Savezni ustavni sud Nemačke, presuda Drugog odeljenja, 24. septembar 2003, 2BvR 1436/ 042.

[8] S. Van Drooghenbroek, „Strasbourg et le voile“, op. cit.

[9] E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, „Le voile à l’école : une Europe divisée“, op. cit., str. 962.

[10] O. De Schutter and J. Ringelheim, „La renonciation aux droits fondamentaux. La libre disposition du soi et le règne de l’échange“, CRIDHO Working paper series 1/2005.

[11] European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, „Annual report on ECRI’S activities covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004“, doc. CRI (2005)36, Strasbourg, June 2005.

_________________________________________

Prevod presude preuzet sa https://vk.sud.rs/

 
 
 

CASE OF LEYLA ŞAHİN v. TURKEY

(Application no. 44774/98)

JUDGMENT

STRASBOURG

10 November 2005  

In the case of Leyla Şahin v. Turkey,

The European Court of Human Rights, sitting as a Grand Chamber composed of:

MrL.Wildhaber, President,
MrC.L.Rozakis,
MrJ.-P.Costa,
MrB.Zupančič,
MrR.Türmen,
MrsF. Tulkens,
MrC.Bîrsan,
MrK.Jungwiert,
MrV.Butkevych,
MrsN.Vajić,
MrM.Ugrekhelidze,
MrsA.Mularoni,
MrJ.Borrego Borrego,
MrsE.Fura-Sandström,
MrsA.Gyulumyan,
MrE.Myjer,
MrS.E.Jebens,judges,
and Mr T.L. Early, DeputyGrand Chamber Registrar,

Having deliberated in private on 18May and 5October 2005,

Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the lastmentioned date:

PROCEDURE

1.  The case originated in an application (no. 44774/98) against the Republic of Turkey lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission”) under former Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Turkish national, Ms LeylaŞahin (“the applicant”), on 21 July 1998.

2.  The applicant was represented by Mr X. Magnée, of the Brussels Bar, and Mr K.Berzeg, of the Ankara Bar. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) were represented by Mr M. Özmen, co-Agent.

3.  The applicant alleged that her rights and freedoms under Articles 8, 9, 10 and 14 of the Convention and Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 had been violated by regulations on wearing the Islamic headscarf in institutions of higher education.

4.  The application was transmitted to the Court on 1 November 1998, when Protocol No. 11 to the Convention came into force (Article 5 § 2 of Protocol No. 11).

5.  The application was allocated to the Fourth Section of the Court (Rule 52 § 1 of the Rules of Court).

6.  By a decision of 2 July 2002, the application was declared admissible by a Chamber from that Section composed of Sir Nicolas Bratza, President, Mr M. Pellonpää, MrsE. Palm, Mr R.Türmen, MrM.Fischbach, Mr J. Casadevall,Mr S. Pavlovschi, judges, andMrM.OBoyle, Section Registrar.

7.  A hearing on the merits (Rule 54 § 3) took place in public in the HumanRightsBuilding, Strasbourg, on 19 November 2002.

8.  In its judgment of 29 June 2004 (“the Chamber judgment), the Chamber held unanimously that there had been no violation of Article 9 of the Convention on account of the ban on wearing the headscarfand that no separate question arose under Articles 8 and 10, Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 9 of the Convention, and Article 2 of Protocol No. 1.

9.  On27 September 2004the applicant requested that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber (Article 43 of the Convention).

10.  On10 November 2004a panel of the Grand Chamber decided to accept her request (Rule 73).

11.  The composition of the Grand Chamber was determined according to the provisions of Article 27 §§ 2 and 3 of the Convention and Rule 24.

12.  The applicant and the Government each filed observations on the merits.

13.  A hearing took place in public in the HumanRightsBuilding, Strasbourg, on 18 May 2005 (Rule 59 § 3).

 

There appeared before the Court:

(a)  for the Government
MrM. Özmen,Co-Agent,
MrE. İşcan,Counsel,
MsA. Emüler,
MsG. Akyüz,
MsD. Kilislioğlu,Advisers;

(b)  for the applicant
MrX. Magnée,
MrK. Berzeg,Counsel.

 

The Court heard addresses by Mr Berzeg, Mr Özmenand Mr Magnée.

THE FACTS

I.  THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

14.  The applicant was born in 1973 and has lived in Vienna since 1999, when she left Istanbul to pursue her medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine at ViennaUniversity. She comes from a traditional family of practising Muslims and considers it her religious duty to wear the Islamic headscarf.

A.  The circular of 23 February 1998

15.  On 26 August 1997 the applicant, then in her fifth year at the Faculty of Medicine at BursaUniversity, enrolled at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine at IstanbulUniversity. She says she wore the Islamic headscarf during the four years she spent studying medicine at the University of Bursa and continued to do so until February 1998.

16.  On 23 February 1998 the Vice-Chancellor of Istanbul University issued a circular, the relevant part of which provides:

“By virtue of the Constitution, the law and regulations, and in accordance with the case-law of the Supreme Administrative Court and the European Commission of Human Rights and the resolutions adopted by the university administrative boards, students whose heads are covered (who wear the Islamic headscarf) and students (including overseas students) with beards must not be admitted to lectures, courses or tutorials. Consequently, the name and number of any student with a beard or wearing the Islamic headscarf must not be added to the lists of registered students. However, students who insist on attending tutorials and entering lecture theatres although their names and numbers are not on the lists must be advised of the position and, should they refuse to leave, their names and numbers must be taken and they must be informed that they are not entitled to attend lectures. If they refuse to leave the lecture theatre, the teacher shall record the incident in a report explaining why it was not possible to give the lecture and shall bring the incident to the attention of the university authorities as a matter of urgency so that disciplinary measures can be taken.”

17.  On 12 March 1998, in accordance with the aforementioned circular, the applicant was denied access by invigilators to a written examination on oncology because she was wearing the Islamic headscarf. On 20March 1998 the secretariat of the chair of orthopaedic traumatology refused to allow her to enrol because she was wearing a headscarf. On 16April 1998 she was refused admission to a neurology lecture and on 10June 1998 to a written examination on public health, again for the same reason.

B.  The application for an order setting aside the circular of 23 February 1998

18.  On 29 July 1998 the applicant lodged an application for an order setting aside the circular of 23 February 1998. In her written pleadings, she submitted that the circular and its implementation had infringed her rights guaranteed by Articles 8, 9 and 14 of the Convention and Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, in that there was no statutory basis for the circular and the Vice-Chancellors Office had no regulatory power in that sphere.

19.  In a judgment of 19 March 1999, the Istanbul Administrative Court dismissed the application, holding that by virtue of section 13(b) of the Higher Education Act (Law no. 2547 – see paragraph 52 below) a university vice-chancellor, as the executive organ of the university, had power to regulate students dress for the purposes of maintaining order. That regulatory power had to be exercised in accordance with the relevant legislation and the judgments of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. Referring to the settled case-law of those courts, the Administrative Court held that neither the regulations in issue, nor the measures taken against the applicant, could be considered illegal.

20.  On 19 April 2001 the Supreme Administrative Court dismissed an appeal on points of law by the applicant.

C.  The disciplinary measures taken against the applicant

21.  In May 1998 disciplinary proceedings were brought against the applicant under paragraph 6(a) of the Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules (see paragraph 50 below) as a result of her failure to comply with the rules on dress.

22.  On 26 May 1998, in view of the fact that the applicant had shown by her actions that she intended to continue wearing the headscarf to lectures and/or tutorials, the dean of the faculty declared that her attitude and failure to comply with the rules on dress were not befitting of a student. He therefore decided to issue her with a warning.

23.  On 15 February 1999 an unauthorised assembly gathered outside the deanery of the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine to protest against the rules on dress.

24.  On 26 February 1999 the dean of the faculty began disciplinary proceedings against various students, including the applicant, for joining the assembly. On 13 April 1999, after hearing her representations, he suspended her from the university for a semester pursuant to Article 9(j) of the Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules (see paragraph 50 below).

25.  On 10 June 1999 the applicant lodged an application with the Istanbul Administrative Court for an order quashing the decision to suspend her.The applicationwas dismissed on 30 November 1999 by the Istanbul Administrative Courton the ground that, in the light of the material in the case file and the settled case-law on the subject, the impugned measure could not be regarded as illegal.

26.  Following the entry into force of Law no. 4584 on 28 June 2000 (which provided for students to be given an amnesty in respect of penalties imposed for disciplinary offences and for any resulting disability to be annulled),the applicant was granted an amnesty releasing her from all the penalties that had been imposed on her and the resultant disabilities.

27.  On 28 September 2000 the Supreme Administrative Court held that Law no. 4584 made it unnecessary to examine the merits of the applicants appeal on points of law against the judgment of 30November 1999.

28.  In the meantime, on 16 September 1999, the applicant abandoned her studies in Turkey and enrolled at ViennaUniversity, where she pursued her university education.

II.  RELEVANT LAW AND PRACTICE

A.  The Constitution

29.  The relevant provisions of the Constitution provide:

Article 2

“The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular [laik] and social State based on the rule of law that is respectful of human rights in a spirit of social peace, national solidarity and justice, adheres to the nationalism of Atatürk and is underpinned by the fundamental principles set out in the Preamble.”

Article 4

“No amendment may be made or proposed to the provisions of Article 1 of the Constitution laying down that the State shall be a Republic, the provisions of Article2 concerning the characteristics of the Republic or the provisions of Article 3.”

Article 10

“All individuals shall be equal before the law without any distinction based on language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, membership of a religious sect or other similar grounds.

Men and women shall have equal rights. The State shall take action to achieve such equality in practice.

No privileges shall be granted to any individual, family, group or class.

State bodies and administrative authorities shall act in compliance with the principle of equality before the law in all circumstances.

Article 13

Fundamental rights and freedoms may be restricted only by law and on the groundssetout in specialprovisions of the Constitution, provided always that the essence of such rights and freedoms must remain intact. Any such restriction shall not conflict with the letter or spirit of the Constitution or the requirements of a democratic, secular social order and shall comply with the principle of proportionality.

Article 14

The rights and freedoms set out in the Constitution maynot be exercised with a view to undermining the territorial integrity of the State, the unity of the nation orthe democratic and secular Republic founded on human rights.

No provision of this Constitution shall be interpreted in a manner that would grant the State or individuals the right to engage in activities intended to destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms embodied in the Constitution or to restrict them beyond what is permitted by the Constitution.

The penalties to which persons who engage in activities that contravene these provisionsare liable shall be determined by law.”

Article 24

Everyone shall have the right to freedom of conscience, belief and religious conviction.

Prayers, worship and religious services shall be conducted freely, provided that they do not violate the provisions of Article 14.

No one shall be compelled to participate in prayers, worship or religious services or to reveal his or her religious beliefs and convictions; no one shall be censured or prosecuted for his religious beliefs or convictions.

Education and instruction in religion and ethics shall be provided under the supervision and control of the State. Instruction in religious culture and in morals shall be a compulsory part of the curricula of primary and secondary schools. Other religious education and instruction shall be a matter for individual choice, with the decision in the case of minors being taken by their legal guardians.

No one shall exploit or abuse religion, religious feelings or things held sacred by religion in any manner whatsoever with a view to causing the social, economic, political or legal order of the State to be based on religious precepts, even if only in part, or for the purpose of securing political or personal interest or influence thereby.”

Article 42

No one may be deprived of the right to instruction and education.

The scope of the right to education shall be defined and regulated by law.

Instruction and teaching shall be providedunder the supervision and control of the State in accordance with the principles and reforms of Atatürk and contemporary scientific and educational methods. No educational or teaching institutionmay be set up that does not follow these rules.

Citizens are not absolved from the duty to remain loyal to the Constitution by freedom of instructionand teaching.

Primary education shall be compulsory for all citizens of both sexes and provided free of charge in State schools.

The rules governing the functioning of private primary and secondary schools shall be regulated by law in keeping with the standards set for State schools.

The State shall provide able pupils of limited financial means with the necessary aid in the form of scholarships or other assistance to enable them to pursue their studies.It shall take suitable measures to rehabilitate those in need of special training so as to render them useful to society.

Education, teaching, research, and study are the only activities that may be pursued ineducational and teaching institutions. These activities shall not beimpeded in any way...”

Article 153

The decisions of the Constitutional Courtshall be final. A decision to invalidate a provisionshall not be made public without a written statement of reasons.

When striking downa law or legislativedecree or a provision thereof, the Constitutional Courtmay not actas a quasi-legislature bydrafting provisions that would be enforceable.

...

Judgments of the Constitutional Court shall be published immediately in the Official Gazette and shall be binding on the legislative, executive, and judicial organs, the administrative authorities, and natural and juristic persons.

B.  History and background

1.  Religious dress and the principle of secularism

30.  The TurkishRepublic was founded on the principle that the State should be secular (laik). Before and after the proclamation of the Republic on 29October 1923, the public and religious spheres were separated through a series of revolutionary reforms: the abolition of the caliphate on 3 March 1923; the repeal of the constitutional provision declaring Islam the religion of the State on 10 April 1928; and, lastly, on 5 February 1937, a constitutional amendment according constitutional status to the principle of secularism (see Article 2 of the Constitution of 1924 and Article 2 of the Constitutions of 1961 and 1982, as set out in paragraph 29 above).

31.  The principle of secularism was inspired by developments in Ottoman society in the period between the nineteenth century and the proclamation of the Republic. The idea of creating a modern public society in which equality was guaranteed to all citizens without distinction on grounds of religion, denomination or sex had already been mooted in the Ottoman debates of the nineteenth century. Significant advances in womens rights were made during this period (equality of treatment in education, the introduction of a ban on polygamy in 1914, the transfer of jurisdiction in matrimonial cases to the secular courts that had been established in the nineteenth century).

32.  The defining feature of the Republican ideal wasthe presence of womenin public life and theiractive participationin society. Consequently, the ideas that women should be freed from religious constraints and that society should be modernised had a common origin. Thus, on 17February 1926 the Civil Code was adopted, which provided for equality of the sexes in the enjoyment of civic rights, in particular with regard to divorce and succession. Subsequently, through a constitutional amendment of 5 December 1934 (Article10 of the 1924 Constitution), women obtained equal political rights to men.

33.  The first legislation to regulate dress was the Headgear Act of 28 November 1925 (Law no. 671), which treated dress as a modernity issue. Similarly, a ban was imposed on wearing religious attire other than in places of worship or at religious ceremonies, irrespective of the religion or belief concerned, by the Dress (Regulations) Act of 3December 1934 (Law no. 2596).

34.  Under the Education Services (Merger) Act of 3 March 1924 (Lawno.430), religious schools were closed and all schools came under the control of the Ministry of Education. The Act is one of the laws with constitutional status that are protected by Article 174 of the Turkish Constitution.

35.  In Turkey, wearing the Islamic headscarf to school and university is a recent phenomenon which only really began to emerge in the 1980s. There has been extensive discussion on the issue and it continues to be the subject of lively debate in Turkish society. Those in favour of the headscarf see wearing it as a duty and/or a form of expression linked to religious identity. However, the supporters of secularism, who draw a distinction between the başörtüsü (traditional Anatolian headscarf, worn loosely) and thetürban(tight, knotted headscarf hiding the hair and the throat),see the Islamic headscarf as a symbolof a political Islam. As a result of the accession to power on 28 June 1996 of a coalition government comprising the Islamist RefahPartisi, and the centre-right DoğruYolPartisi, the debate has taken on strong political overtones. The ambivalence displayed by the leaders of the RefahPartisi, including the then Prime Minister, over their attachment to democratic values, and their advocacy of a plurality of legal systems functioning according to different religious rules for each religious community was perceived in Turkish society as a genuine threat to republican values and civil peace (see RefahPartisi (the Welfare Party) and Others v. Turkey [GC], nos. 41340/98, 41342/98, 41343/98 and41344/98, ECHR 2003-II).

2.  The rules on dress in institutions of highereducation and the case-law of the Constitutional Court

36.  The first piece of legislation on dress in institutions of higher education was a set of regulations issued by the Cabinet on 22 July 1981 requiring staff working for public organisations and institutions and personnel and female students at State institutions to wear ordinary, sober, modern dress. The regulations also provided that female members of staff and students should not wear veils in educational institutions.

37.  On 20 December 1982 the HigherEducation Authority issued a circular on the wearing of headscarves in institutions of highereducation. The Islamic headscarf was banned in lecture theatres. In a judgment of 13 December 1984, the Supreme Administrative Court held that the regulations were lawful, noting:

“Beyond being a mere innocent practice, wearing the headscarf is in the process of becoming the symbol of a vision that is contrary to the freedoms of women and the fundamental principles of the Republic.”

38.  On 10 December 1988 transitional section 16 of the HigherEducation Act (Law no. 2547) came into force. It provided:

“Modern dress or appearance shall be compulsory in the rooms and corridors of institutions of highereducation, preparatory schools, laboratories, clinics and multidisciplinary clinics. A veil or headscarf covering the neck and hair may be worn out of religious conviction.”

39.  In a judgment of 7 March 1989 published in the Official Gazette of 5 July 1989, the Constitutional Court held that the aforementioned provision was contrary to Articles 2 (secularism), 10 (equality before the law) and24 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution. It also found that it could not be reconciled with the principle of sexual equality implicit, inter alia, in republican and revolutionary values (see Preamble and Article174 of the Constitution).

In their judgment, the Constitutional Court judges explained, firstly, that secularism had acquired constitutional status by reason of the historical experience of the country and the particularities of Islam compared to other religions; secularism was an essential condition for democracy and acted as a guarantor of freedom of religion and of equality before the law. It also prevented the State from showing a preference for a particular religion or belief; consequently, a secular State could not invoke religious conviction when performing its legislative function. They stated, inter alia:

Secularism is the civil organiser of political, social and cultural life, based on national sovereignty, democracy, freedom and science. Secularism is the principle which offers the individual the possibility to affirm his or her own personality through freedom of thought and which, by the distinction it makes between politics and religious beliefs, renders freedom of conscience and religion effective. In societies based on religion, which function with religious thought and religious rules, political organisation is religious in character. In a secular regime, religion is shielded from a political role. It is not a tool of the authorities and remains in its respectable place, to be determined by the conscience of each and everyone...”

Stressing its inviolable nature, the Constitutional Court observed that freedom of religion, conscience and worship, which could not be equated with a right to wear any particular religious attire, guaranteed first and foremost the liberty to decide whether or not to follow a religion. It explained that, once outside the private sphere of individual conscience, freedom to manifest ones religion could be restricted on public-order grounds to defend the principle of secularism.

Everyone was free to choose how to dress, as the social and religious values and traditions of society also had to be respected. However, when a particular dress code was imposed on individuals by reference to a religion, the religion concerned was perceived and presented as a set of values that were incompatible with those of contemporary society. In addition, in Turkey, where the majority of the population were Muslims, presenting the wearing of the Islamic headscarf as a mandatory religious duty would result in discrimination between practising Muslims, non-practising Muslims and non-believers on grounds of dress with anyone who refused to wear the headscarf undoubtedly being regarded as opposed to religion or as non-religious.

The Constitutional Court also said that students had to be permitted to work and pursue their education together in a calm, tolerant and mutually supportive atmosphere without being deflected from that goal by signs of religious affiliation. It found that, irrespective of whether the Islamic headscarf was a precept of Islam, granting legal recognition to a religious symbol of that type in institutions of higher education was not compatible with the principle that State education must be neutral, as it would be liable to generate conflicts between students with differing religious convictions or beliefs.

40.  On 25 October 1990 transitional section 17 of Law no. 2547 came into force. It provides:

“Choice of dress shall be free in institutions of higher education, provided that it does not contravene the laws in force.”

41.  In a judgment of 9 April 1991, which was published in the Official Gazette of 31 July 1991, the Constitutional Court noted that, in the light of the principles it had established in its judgment of 7 March 1989, the aforementioned provision did not allow headscarves to be worn in institutions of higher education on religious grounds and so was consistent with the Constitution. It stated, inter alia:

... the expression laws in forcerefers first and foremost to the Constitution... In institutions of higher education, it is contrary to the principles of secularism and equality for the neck and hair to be covered with a veil or headscarf on grounds of religious conviction. In these circumstances, the freedom of dress which the impugned provision permits in institutions of higher educationdoes not concern dress of a religious nature or the act of covering ones neck and hair with a veil and headscarf... The freedom afforded by this provision [transitional section 17] is conditional on its not being contrary to the laws in force. The judgment [of 7 March 1989] of the Constitutional Court establishes that covering ones neck and hair with the headscarf is first and foremost contrary to the Constitution. Consequently, the condition set out in the aforementioned section requiring [choice of] dress not to contravene the laws in force removes from the scope of freedom of dress the act of covering ones neck and hair with the headscarf...

3.  Application of the regulations at IstanbulUniversity

42.  IstanbulUniversity was founded in the fifteenth century and is one of the main centres of State higher education in Turkey. It has seventeen faculties (including two faculties of medicine – Cerrahpaşa and Çapa) and twelve schools of higher education. It is attended by approximately 50,000students.

43.  In 1994, following a petitioning campaign launched by female students enrolled on the midwifery course at the University School of Medicine, the Vice-Chancellor circulated a memorandum in which he explained the background to the Islamicheadscarf issue and the legal basis for the relevant regulations, noting in particular:

“The ban prohibiting students enrolled on the midwifery course from wearing the headscarf during tutorials is not intended to infringe their freedom of conscience and religion, but to comply with the laws and regulations in force. When doing their work, midwives and nurses wear a uniform. That uniform is described in and identified by regulations issued by the Ministry of Health... Students who wish to join the profession are aware of this. Imagine a student of midwifery trying to put a baby in or remove it from an incubator, or assisting a doctor in an operating theatre or maternity unit while wearing a long-sleeved coat.”

44.  The Vice-Chancellor was concerned that the campaign for permission to wear the Islamic headscarf on all university premises had reached the point where there was a risk of its undermining order and causing unrest at the university, the faculty, the CerrahpaşaHospitaland theSchoolof Medicine. He called on the students to comply with the rules on dress, reminding them, in particular, of the rights of the patients.

45.  A resolution regarding the rules on dress for students and university staff was adopted on 1 June 1994 by the university executive and provides:

“The rules governing dress in universities are set out in the laws and regulations. The Constitutional Court has delivered a judgment which prevents religious attire being worn in universities.

This judgment applies to all students of our University and the academic staff, both administrative and otherwise, at all levels. In particular, nurses, midwives, doctors and vets are required to comply with the regulations on dress, as dictated by scientific considerations and the legislation, during health and applied science tutorials (on nursing, laboratory work, surgery and microbiology). Anyone not complying with the rules on dress will be refused access to tutorials.”

46.  On 23 February 1998 a circular signed by the Vice-Chancellor of Istanbul University was distributed containing instructions on the admission of students with beards or wearing the Islamic headscarf (for the text of this circular, see paragraph 16above).

47.  IstanbulUniversity adopted a resolution (no.11 of 9 July 1998 ), worded as follows:

“1.  Students at IstanbulUniversity shall comply with the legal principles and rules on dress set out in the decisions of the Constitutional Court and higher judicial bodies.

2.  Students shall not wear clothes that symbolise or manifest any religion, faith, race, or political or ideological persuasion in any institution or department of the university, or on any of its premises.

3.  Students shall comply with the rules requiring specific clothes to be worn for occupational reasons in the institutions and departments at which they are enrolled.

4.  Photographs supplied by students to their institution or department [must be taken] from the frontwith head and neck uncovered. They must be no more than six months old and make the student readily identifiable.

5.  Anyone displaying an attitude that is contrary to the aforementioned points or who, through his words, writings or deeds, encourages such an attitude shall be liable to action under the provisions of the Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules.”

4.  Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules

48.  The Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules, which were published in the Official Gazette of 13 January 1985, prescribe five forms of disciplinary penalty: a warning, a reprimand, temporary suspension of between a week and a month, temporary suspension of one or two semesters, and expulsion.

49.  Merely wearing the Islamic headscarf on university premises does not constitute a disciplinary offence.

50.  By virtue of paragraph 6(a) of the Rules, a student whose “behaviour and attitude are not befitting of students” will be liable to a warning. A reprimand will be issued, inter alia, to students whose conduct is such as to lose them the respect and trust which students are required to command, or who disrupt lectures, seminars, tutorials in laboratories or workshops (paragraph7(a) and (e)). Students who directly or indirectly restrict the freedom of others to learn and teach or whose conduct is liable to disturb the calm, tranquillity and industriousness required in institutions of higher education or who engage in political activities in such institutions are liable to temporary suspension of between a week and a month (paragraph 8 (a) and(c)). Paragraph 9(j) lays down that students who organise or take part in unauthorised meetings on university premises are liable to one or two semesters suspension.

51.  The procedure for investigating disciplinary complaints is governed by paragraphs 13 to 34 of the Rules. Paragraphs 16 and 33 provide that the rights of defence of students must be respected and the disciplinary board must take into account the reasons that caused the student to transgress the rules. All disciplinary measures are subject to judicial review in the administrative courts.

5.  The regulatory power of the university authorities

52.  Since universities are public-law bodies by virtue of Article130 of the Constitution, they enjoy a degree of autonomy, subject to State control, that is reflected in the fact that they are run by management organs, such as the vice-chancellor, withdelegated statutory powers.

The relevant parts of section 13 of Law no.2547 provide:

...

(b)  Vice-chancellors shall have the following powers, competence and responsibilities:

1.  To chair meetings of university boards, implement their resolutions, examine proposals by the university boards and take such decisions as shall be necessary, and ensure that institutions forming part of the university function in a coordinated manner;

...

5.  To supervise and monitor the university departments and university staff at all levels.

It is the vice-chancellor who shall have primary responsibility for taking safety measures and for supervising and monitoring the administrative and scientific aspects of the functioning of the university...

53.  The monitoring and supervisory power conferred on the vice-chancellor by section 13of Law no. 2547 is subject to the requirement of lawfulness and to scrutiny by the administrative courts.

C.  The binding force of the reasoning in judgments of the Constitutional Court

54.  In its judgment of 27 May 1999 (E. 1998/58, K. 1999/19), which was published in the Official Gazette of 4 March 2000, the Constitutional Court stated, inter alia:

“The legislature and executive are bound by both the operative provisions of judgments and the reasoning taken as a whole. Judgments and the reasons stated in them lay down the standards by which legislative activity will be measured and establish guidelines for such activity.”

D.  Comparative law

55.  For more than twenty years the place of the Islamic headscarf in State education has been the subject of debate across Europe. In most European countries, the debate has focused mainly on primary and secondary schools. However, in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Albania it has concerned not just the question of individual liberty, but also the politicalmeaning of the Islamic headscarf.These are the only member States to haveintroduced regulations on wearing the Islamic headscarf in universities.

56.  In France, where secularism is regarded as one of the cornerstones of republican values, legislation was passed on 15March 2004 regulating, in accordance with the principle of secularism, the wearing of signs or dress manifesting a religious affiliation in State primary and secondary schools. The legislation inserted a new ArticleL. 141-5-1in the Education Code which provides: “In State primary and secondary schools, the wearing of signs or dress by which pupils overtly manifest a religious affiliation is prohibited.The school rules shall state that the institution of disciplinary proceedings shall be preceded by dialogue with the pupil.

The Act applies to all State schools and educational institutions, including post-baccalaureate courses (preparatory classes for entrance to the grandesécoles and vocational training courses). It does not apply to State universities.In addition, as a circular of 18 May 2004 makes clear, it only concerns ... signs, such as the Islamic headscarf, however named, the kippa or a cross that is manifestly oversized,which make the wearers religious affiliation immediately identifiable”.

57.  In Belgium there is no general ban on wearing religious signs at school. In the French Community a decree of 13 March 1994 stipulates that education shall be neutral within the Community. Pupils are in principle allowed to wear religious signs. However, they may do so only if human rights, the reputation of others, national security, public order, and public health and morals are protected and internal rules complied with. Further, teachers must not permit religious or philosophical proselytism under their authority or the organisation of political militancy by or on behalf of pupils. The decree stipulates that restrictions may be imposed by school rules. On 19 May 2004the French Community issued a decree intended to institute equality of treatment. In the Flemish Community, there is no uniform policy among schools on whether to allow religious or philosophical signs to be worn. Some do, others do not. When pupils are permitted to wear such signs, restrictions may be imposed on grounds of hygiene or safety.

58.  In other countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), in some cases following a protracted legal debate, the State education authorities permit Muslim pupils and students to wear the Islamic headscarf.

59.  In Germany, where the debate focused on whether teachers should be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf, the Constitutional Court stated on 24 September 2003 in a case between a teacher and the Land of Baden-Württemberg that the lack of any express statutory prohibition meant that teachers were entitled to wear the headscarf. Consequently, it imposed a duty on the Länderto lay down rules on dress if they wished to prohibit the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in State schools.

60.  In Austria there is no special legislation governing the wearing of the headscarf, turban or kippa. In general,it is considered that a ban on wearing the headscarf will only be justified if it poses a health or safety hazard for pupils.

61.  In the United Kingdom a tolerant attitude is shown to pupils who wear religious signs. Difficulties with respect to the Islamic headscarf are rare. The issue has also been debated in the context of the elimination of racial discrimination in schools in order to preserve their multicultural character (see, in particular, Mandla v. Dowell, The Law Reports1983, pp. 548-70). The Commission for Racial Equality, whose opinions have recommendation status only, also considered the issue of the Islamic headscarf in 1988 in the AltrinchamGrammar School case, which ended in a compromise between a private school and members of the family of two sisters who wished to be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf at the school. The school agreed to allow them to wear the headscarf provided it was navy blue (the colour of the school uniform), kept fastened at the neck and not decorated.

In R. (On the application of Begum) v. Headteacher and Governors of DenbighHigh School([2004]EWHC 1389 (Admin)), the High Court had to decide a dispute betweenthe school and a Muslim pupil wishing to wear the jilbab(a full-length gown). The school required pupils to wear a uniform, one of the possible options being the headscarf and theshalwarkameeze(long traditional garments from the Indian subcontinent). In June 2004the High Court dismissed the pupils application, holding that there had been no violation of her freedom of religion. However, that judgment was reversed in March 2005 by the Court of Appeal, which accepted that there had been interference with the pupils freedom of religion, as a minority of Muslims in the United Kingdom considered that a religious duty to wear the jilbab from the age of puberty existed and the pupil was genuinely of that opinion. No justification for the interference had been provided by the school authorities, as the decision-making process was not compatible with freedom of religion.

62.  In Spain there is no express statutory prohibition on pupils wearing religious head coverings in State schools. By virtue of two royal decrees of 26 January 1996, which are applicable in primary and secondary schools unless the competent authority – the autonomous community – hasintroduced specific measures, the school governors have power to issue school rules which may include provisions on dress. Generally speaking, State schools allow the headscarf to be worn.

63.  In Finland and Sweden the veil can be worn at school. However, a distinction is made between the burka(the term used to describe the full veil covering the whole of the body and the face) and theniqab(a veil covering all the upper body with the exception of the eyes). In Sweden mandatory directives were issued in 2003 by the National Education Agency. These allow schools to prohibit the burka and niqab, provided they do so in a spirit of dialogue on the common values of equality of the sexes and respect for the democratic principle on which the education system is based.

64.  In the Netherlands, where the question of the Islamic headscarf is considered from the standpoint of discrimination rather than of freedom of religion, it is generally tolerated. In 2003 a non-binding directive was issued. Schools may require pupils to wear a uniform provided that the rules are not discriminatory and are included in the school prospectus and that the punishment for transgressions is not disproportionate. A ban on the burka is regarded as justified by the need to be able to identify and communicate with pupils. In addition, the Equal Treatment Commission ruled in 1997 that a ban on wearing the veil during physical education classes for safety reasons was not discriminatory.

65.  In a number of other countries (Russia, Romania, Hungary,Greece,the Czech Republic, Slovakia andPoland), the issue of the Islamic headscarf does not yet appear to have given rise to any detailed legal debate.


E.  The relevant Council of Europe texts on higher education

66.  Among the various texts adopted by the Council of Europe on higher education, should be cited, first of all, Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1353(1998) on the access of minorities to higher education,which was adopted on 27 January 1998, andCommittee of Ministers Recommendation No. R (98) 3 on access to higher education, which was adopted on17 March 1998.

Another relevant instrument in this sphere is the joint Council of Europe/UNESCOConvention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, which was signed in Lisbon on11 April 1997and came into force on1 February 1999.

67.  The preamble to theConvention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region states:

Conscious of the fact that the right to education is a human right, and that higher education, which is instrumental in the pursuit and advancement of knowledge, constitutes an exceptionally rich cultural and scientific asset for both individuals and society ...”

68.  On 17 March 1998 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted RecommendationNo.R (98) 3 on access to higher education. In the preamble to the recommendation it is stated:

... higher education has a key role to play in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the strengthening of pluralistic democracy and tolerance [and] ... widening opportunities for members of all groups in society to participate in higher education can contribute to securing democracy and building confidence in situations of social tension...”

69.  Likewise, Article 2 of Recommendation 1353 (1998) on the access of minorities to higher education,which was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on27 January 1998,provides:

Education is a fundamental human right and therefore access to all levels, including higher education, should be equally available to all permanent residents of the States signatories to the European Cultural Convention.”

THE LAW

I.  ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION

70.  The applicant submitted that the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf in institutions of higher education constituted an unjustified interference with her right to freedom of religion, in particular, her right to manifest her religion.

She relied on Article 9 of the Convention, which provides:

“1.  Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2.  Freedom to manifest ones religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”

A.  The Chamber judgment

71.  The Chamber found that the IstanbulUniversityregulations restricting the right to wear the Islamic headscarf and the measures taken thereunderhad interfered with the applicants right to manifest her religion. It went on to find that the interference was prescribed by law and pursued one of the legitimate aims set out in the second paragraph of Article 9 of the Convention.It was justified in principle and proportionate to the aims pursued and could therefore be regarded as having been “necessaryin a democratic society” (see paragraphs 66-116 of the Chamber judgment).

B.  The parties submissions to the Grand Chamber

72.  In her request for a referral to the Grand Chamber dated 27 September 2004and in her oral submissions at the hearing, the applicant contested the grounds on which the Chamber had concluded that there had been no violation of Article 9 of the Convention.

73.  However, in the observations she submitted to the Grand Chamber on 27January 2005she said that she was notseeking legal recognition of a right for all women to wear the Islamic headscarf in all places,and stated in particular: “Implicit in the section judgment is the notion that the right to wear the headscarf will not always be protected by freedom of religion. [I] do not contest that approach.

74.  The Government asked the Grand Chamber to endorse the Chambers finding that there had been no violation of Article 9.

C.  The Courts assessment

75.  The Court must consider whether the applicants right under Article 9 was interfered with and, if so, whether the interference was “prescribed by law”, pursued a legitimate aim and was “necessary in a democratic society” within the meaning of Article 9 § 2 of the Convention.

1.  Whether there was interference

76.  The applicant said that her choice of dress had to be treated as obedience to a religious rule which she regarded as “recognised practice”. She maintained that the restriction in issue, namely the rules on wearing the Islamic headscarf onuniversity premises, was a clear interference with her right to freedom to manifest her religion.

77.  The Government did notmake any submissionsto the Grand Chamber on this question.

78.  As to whether there was interference, the Grand Chamber endorses the following findings of the Chamber (see paragraph 71 of the Chamber judgment):

“The applicant said that, by wearing the headscarf, she was obeying a religious precept and thereby manifesting her desire to comply strictly with the duties imposed by the Islamic faith. Accordingly, her decision to wear the headscarf may be regarded as motivated or inspired by a religion or belief and, without deciding whether such decisions are in every case taken to fulfil a religious duty, the Court proceeds on the assumption that the regulations in issue, which placed restrictions of place and manner on the right to wear the Islamic headscarf in universities, constituted an interference with the applicants right to manifest her religion.”

2.  “Prescribed by law”

(a)  The parties submissions to the Grand Chamber

79.  The applicant said that there had been no “written law” to prohibit students from wearing the Islamic headscarf at university, either when she enrolled in 1993 or in the period thereafter. She explained that under the Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules it was not a disciplinary offence merely to wear the Islamic headscarf (see paragraphs49 and 50 above). The firstregulation to restrict her right to wear the headscarf had been the circular issued bythe Vice-Chancellor on 23 February 1998, some four and a half years later.

80.  In the applicants submission, it could not validly be argued that the legal basis for that regulation was the case-law of the Turkish courts, as the courts only had jurisdiction to apply the law, not to establish new legal rules. Although in its judgments of7March 1989and9 April 1991 (see paragraphs 39 and 41 above) the Constitutional Court had not acted ultra vires in proscribing the headscarf in individual cases, the legislature had not construed the first of that courts judgments as requiring it tointroduce legislation prohibiting the Islamic headscarf. There was no statutory provision in force to prohibit students from wearing the headscarf on the premises of institutions of higher education, whilethe reasons given by the Constitutional Court for its decision did not have the force of law.

81.  The applicant said that while university authorities, including vice-chancellors offices and deaneries, were unquestionably at liberty to use the powers vested in them by law, the scope of those powers and the limits on them were also defined by law, as were the procedures by which they were to be exercised and the safeguards against abuse of authority.In the instant case, the Vice-Chancellor had not possessed the authority or power, either under the laws in force or the Students Disciplinary Procedure Rules, to refuse students “wearing the headscarf” access to university premises or examination rooms. In addition,the legislature had at no stage sought to issue a general ban on wearing religious signs in schools and universities and there had never been supportforsuch a ban in Parliament, despite the fierce debate to which the Islamic headscarf had given rise. Moreover, the fact that the administrative authorities had not introduced any general regulations providing for the imposition of disciplinary penalties on students wearing the headscarf in institutions of higher education meant that no such ban existed.

82.  The applicant considered that the interference with her right had not been foreseeable and was not based on a “law” within the meaning of the Convention.

83.  The Government confined themselves to asking the Grand Chamber to endorse the Chambers finding on this point.

(b)  The Courts assessment

84.  The Court reiterates its settled case-law that the expression “prescribed by law” requires firstly that the impugned measure should have a basis in domestic law. It also refers to the quality of the law in question, requiring that it be accessible to the persons concerned and formulated with sufficient precision to enable them – if need be, with appropriate advice – to foresee, to a degree that is reasonable in the circumstances, the consequences which a given action may entail and to regulate their conduct (see GorzelikandOthersv. Poland[GC], no.44158/98, § 64, ECHR 2004I).

85.  The Court observes that the applicants arguments relating to the alleged unforeseeability of Turkish law do not concern the circular of 23 February 1998on which the ban on students wearing the veil duringlectures, courses and tutorials was based. That circular was issued bythe Vice-Chancellor of Istanbul University, who, as the person in charge in whom the main decision-making powers were vested, was responsible for overseeing and monitoringthe administrative and scientific aspects of the functioning of the university. He issued the circular within the statutory framework set out in section 13 of Law no. 2547 (see paragraph 52 above) and in accordance with the regulatory provisions that had been adopted earlier.

86.  According to the applicant, however, the circular was not compatible with transitional section 17 of Law no. 2547, as that section did not proscribe the Islamic headscarf and there were no legislative normsin existencecapable of constituting alegal basis for a regulatory provision.

87.  The Court must therefore consider whether transitional section17 of Law no. 2547 was capable of constituting alegal basis for the circular. It reiterates in that connection that it is primarily for the national authorities, notably the courts, to interpret and apply domestic law (see Kruslin v. France, judgment of 24April 1990, Series A no. 176-A, pp.21-22, § 29) and notes that, in rejecting the argument that the circular was illegal, the administrative courts relied on the settled case-law of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court (see paragraph19 above).

88.  Further, as regards the words “in accordance with the law” and “prescribed by law” which appear in Articles 8 to 11 of the Convention, the Court observes that it has always understood the term “law” in its “substantive” sense, not its “formal” one; it has included both “written law”, encompassing enactments of lower ranking statutes (see De Wilde, Ooms and Versyp v. Belgium, judgment of 18 June 1971, Series A no. 12, pp. 4546, §93) and regulatory measures taken by professional regulatory bodies under independent rule-making powers delegated to them by Parliament (see Barthold v.Germany, judgment of 25 March 1985, Series A no. 90, pp.21-22, §46), and unwritten law. “Law” must be understood to include both statutory law and judge-made “law” (see, among other authorities, The Sunday Times v.the UnitedKingdom (no. 1), judgment of 26 April 1979, Series A no. 30, p.30, §47;Kruslin, cited above, pp. 21-22, § 29 in fine; and Casado Coca v.Spain, judgment of 24February 1994, Series A no. 285-A, p. 18,§ 43). In sum, the “law” is the provision in force as the competent courts have interpreted it.

89.  Accordingly, the question must be examined on the basis not only of the wording of transitional section 17 of Law no.2547, but also of the relevant case-law.

In that connection, as the Constitutional Court noted in its judgment of 9 April 1991 (see paragraph 41 above), the wording of that section shows that freedom of dress in institutions of higher education is not absolute. Under the terms of that provision, students are free to dress as they wish “provided that [their choice] does not contravene the laws in force”.

90.  The dispute therefore concerns the meaning of the words “laws in force” in the aforementioned provision.

91.  The Court reiterates that the scope of the notion of foreseeability depends to a considerable degree on the content of the instrument in question, the field it is designed to cover, and the number and status of those to whom it is addressed. It must also be borne in mind that, however clearly drafted a legal provision may be, its application involves an inevitable element of judicial interpretation, since there will always be a need for clarification of doubtful points and for adaptation to particular circumstances. A margin of doubt in relation to borderline facts does not by itself make a legal provision unforeseeable in its application. Nor does the mere fact that such a provision is capable of more than one construction mean that it fails to meet the requirement of “foreseeability” for the purposes of the Convention. The role of adjudication vested in the courts is precisely to dissipate such interpretational doubts as remain, taking into account the changes in everyday practice (see Gorzelikand Others, cited above, § 65).

92.  The Court notes in that connection that in its aforementioned judgment the Constitutional Court found that the words “laws in force” necessarily included the Constitution. The judgment also made it clear that allowing studentsneck and hair to becovered with a veil or headscarf on grounds of religious conviction” in universities was contrary to the Constitution (see paragraph41 above).

93.  That decision of the Constitutional Court, which was both binding (see paragraphs29 and 54above) and accessible, as it had been published in the Official Gazette of 31 July 1991, supplemented the letter of transitional section 17 and followed the Constitutional Courts previous case-law (see paragraph 39 above). In addition, the Supreme Administrative Court had by then consistently held for a number of years that wearing the Islamic headscarf at university was not compatible with the fundamental principles of the Republic,sincethe headscarf was in the process of becoming the symbol of a vision that was contrary to the freedoms of women and those fundamental principles (see paragraph 37 above).

94.  As to the applicants argument that the legislature had at no stage imposed a ban on wearing the headscarf, the Court reiterates that it is not for it to express a view on the appropriateness of the methods chosen by the legislature of a respondent State to regulate a given field. Its task is confined to determining whether the methods adopted and the effects they entail are in conformity with the Convention (see Gorzelikand Others, cited above, § 67).

95.  Furthermore, the fact that Istanbul University or other universities may not have applied a particular rule in this instance transitional section 17 of Law no. 2547 read in the light of the relevant case-lawrigorouslyin all cases, preferring to take into account the context and the special features of individual courses,doesnot by itself make that rule unforeseeable. In the Turkish constitutional system, the university authoritiesmay not under any circumstances place restrictions on fundamental rights without a basis in law (see Article 13 of the Constitution – paragraph 29 above). Their role is confined to establishing the internal rules of the educational institution concerned in accordance with the rule requiring conformity with statute and subject to the administrative courtspowers of review.

96.  Further, the Court accepts that it can prove difficult to frame laws with a high degree of precision on matterssuch as internal university rules, and tight regulation may be inappropriate (see, mutatis mutandis, Gorzelik and Others, cited above, § 67).

97.  Likewise, it is beyond doubt that regulations on wearing the Islamic headscarf existed at IstanbulUniversitysince 1994 at the latest, well before the applicant enrolled there (see paragraphs 43 and 45 above).

98.  In these circumstances, the Court finds that there was a legal basisfor the interference in Turkish law, namely transitional section 17 of Law no. 2547 read in the light of the relevant case-law of the domestic courts. The law was also accessible and can be consideredsufficiently precise in its terms to satisfy the requirement of foreseeability. It would have been clear to the applicant, from the moment she entered IstanbulUniversity, that there were restrictions on wearing the Islamic headscarf on the university premises and, from 23 February 1998, that she was liable to be refused access to lectures and examinations if she continued to do so.

3.  Legitimate aim

99.  Having regard to the circumstances of the case and the terms of the domestic courts decisions, the Court is able to accept that the impugned interference primarily pursued the legitimate aims of protecting the rights and freedoms of others and of protecting public order, a point which is not in issue between the parties.

4.  “Necessary in a democratic society”

(a)  The parties’ submissions to the Grand Chamber

(i)  The applicant

100.  The applicant contested the Chambers findings. In her observations of27 September 2004and her oral submissions at the hearing, she argued that the notions of “democracy” and “republic” were not alike. While many totalitarian regimes claimed to be “republics”, only a true democracy could be based on the principles of pluralism and broadmindedness. The structure of the judicial and university systems in Turkeyhad beendetermined by the successive coups détatby the military in1960, 1971 and 1980. Referring to the Courts case-law and the practice that had been adopted in a number of countries in Europe, the applicant further submitted that the Contracting States should not be given a wide margin of appreciation to regulate students dress. She explained that no EuropeanState prohibited students from wearing the Islamic headscarf at university and added that there had been no sign of tension in institutions of higher education that would have justified such a radical measure.

101.  The applicant further explained in her aforementioned observations that students were discerning adults who enjoyedfull legal capacity and were capable of deciding for themselves whatwas appropriate conduct. Consequently, the allegation that, by wearing the Islamic headscarf, she hadshown a lack of respect for the convictions of others or sought to influence fellow students and to undermine their rights and freedoms was wholly unfounded. Nor had she created an externalrestriction on any freedom with the support or authority of the State. Her choice had beenbased on religious conviction, which was the most important fundamental right that pluralistic, liberal democracy had granted her. It was, to her mind, indisputable that people were free to subjectthemselves to restrictions if they considered it appropriate. It was also unjust to say thatmerely wearing the Islamic headscarf was contrary to the principle of equality between men and women, as all religions imposed such restrictions on dress whichpeoplewere free to choose whether or not to comply with.

102.  Conversely, in her observations of27 January 2005, the applicant said that she was able to accept that wearing the Islamic headscarf would not always be protected by freedom of religion (see paragraph73 above).

(ii)  The Government

103.  The Government agreed with the Chambers findings (see paragraph 71 above).

(b)  The Courts assessment

(i)  General principles

104.  The Court reiterates that, as enshrined in Article 9, freedom of thought, conscience and religion is one of the foundations of a “democratic society” within the meaning of the Convention. This freedom is, in its religious dimension, one of the most vital elements that go to make up the identity of believers and their conception of life, but it is also a precious asset for atheists, agnostics, sceptics and the unconcerned. The pluralism indissociable from a democratic society, which has been dearly won over the centuries, depends on it. That freedom entails, inter alia, freedom to hold or not to hold religious beliefs and to practise or not to practise a religion (see, among other authorities, Kokkinakis v. Greece,judgment of 25 May 1993, SeriesA no. 260-A, p. 17, § 31, and Buscarini and Others v. San Marino [GC], no. 24645/94, § 34, ECHR 1999-I).

105.  While religious freedom is primarily a matter of individual conscience, it also implies, inter alia, freedom to manifest ones religion, alone and in private, or in community with others, in public and within the circle of those whose faith one shares. Article 9 lists the various forms which manifestation of ones religion or belief may take, namely worship, teaching, practice and observance (see, mutatis mutandis, Chaare Shalom VeTsedek v. France [GC], no. 27417/95, § 73, ECHR 2000-VII).

Article 9 does not protect every act motivated or inspired by a religion or belief (see, among many other authorities, Kalaç v. Turkey, judgment of 1 July 1997, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997-IV, p. 1209, §27; Arrowsmith v. the United Kingdom, no. 7050/75, Commission’sreport of 12 October 1978, Decisions and Reports (DR) 19, p. 5; C. v. the United Kingdom, no. 10358/83, Commission decision of 15 December 1983, DR 37, p. 142; and Tepeli and Others v. Turkey (dec.), no.31876/96, 11 September 2001).

106.  In democratic societies, in which several religions coexist within one and the same population, it may be necessary to place restrictions on freedom to manifest ones religion or belief in order to reconcile the interests of the various groups and ensure that everyones beliefs are respected (see Kokkinakis, cited above, p. 18, § 33).This follows both from paragraph 2 of Article 9 and the States positive obligation under Article1 of the Convention to secure to everyone within its jurisdiction the rights and freedoms defined therein.

107.  The Court has frequently emphasised the States role as the neutral and impartial organiser of the exercise of various religions, faiths and beliefs, and stated that this role is conducive to public order, religious harmony and tolerance in a democratic society. It also considers that the States duty of neutrality and impartiality is incompatible with any power on the States part to assess the legitimacy of religious beliefs orthe ways in which those beliefs are expressed (seeManoussakisand Othersv.Greece, judgment of 26 September 1996, Reports1996-IV, p. 1365, § 47;HasanandChaushv. Bulgaria[GC], no.30985/96, § 78, ECHR 2000XI;RefahPartisi(the Welfare Party) and Othersv. Turkey [GC], nos. 41340/98, 41342/98, 41343/98 and 41344/98, §91, ECHR 2003-II),and that it requires the State to ensure mutual tolerance between opposing groups (see United Communist Party of Turkey and Others v. Turkey, judgment of 30 January 1998, Reports1998I, p. 27, § 57). Accordingly, the role of the authorities in such circumstances is not to remove the cause of tension by eliminating pluralism, but to ensure that the competing groups tolerate each other (see Serif v.Greece, no. 38178/97, § 53, ECHR 1999IX).

108.  Pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness are hallmarks of a “democratic society”.Although individual interests must on occasion be subordinated to those of a group, democracy does not simply mean that the views of a majority must always prevail: a balance must be achieved which ensures the fair and proper treatment of people from minorities and avoids any abuse of a dominant position(see, mutatis mutandis, Young, James and Webster v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 13 August 1981, SeriesA no. 44, p.25, §63, andChassagnouand Othersv. France [GC], nos. 25088/94, 28331/95 and 28443/95, § 112, ECHR 1999III). Pluralism and democracy must also be based on dialogue and a spirit of compromise necessarily entailing various concessions on the part of individuals or groups of individuals which are justified in order to maintain and promote the ideals and values of a democratic society (see, mutatis mutandis, the United Communist Party of Turkey and Others, cited above,pp.2122, § 45,andRefahPartisi(the Welfare Party) and Others,cited above §99).Where these “rights and freedoms” are themselves among those guaranteed by the Convention or its Protocols, it must be accepted that the need to protect them may lead States to restrict other rights or freedoms likewise set forth in the Convention. It is precisely this constant search for a balance between the fundamental rights of each individual which constitutes the foundation of a “democratic society” (see Chassagnouand Others, cited above, §113).

109.  Where questions concerning the relationship between State and religions are at stake, on which opinion in a democratic society may reasonably differ widely, the role of the national decision-making body must be given special importance (see, mutatis mutandis, Chaare Shalom VeTsedek, cited above, § 84, and Wingrove v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 25 November 1996, Reports 1996-V, pp.1957-58, § 58). This will notably be the case when it comes to regulating the wearing of religious symbols in educational institutions, especially(as the comparative-law materials illustrate – see paragraphs 55-65 above)in view of the diversity of the approaches taken by national authorities on the issue. It is not possible to discern throughout Europe a uniform conception of the significance of religion in society (see Otto-Preminger-Institutv. Austria, judgment of 20 September 1994, Series A no. 295A, p.19, § 50),and the meaning or impact of the public expression of a religious belief will differ according to time and context(see, among other authorities, Dahlabv. Switzerland(dec.),no. 42393/98, ECHR 2001V). Rules in this sphere will consequently vary from one country to another according to national traditions and the requirements imposed by the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others and to maintain public order (see, mutatis mutandis, Wingrove, cited above,p. 1957, § 57). Accordingly,the choice of the extent and form such regulations should take must inevitably be left up to a point to the State concerned, as it will depend on the specific domestic context (see, mutatis mutandis, Gorzelik and Others, cited above, §67, andMurphy v.Ireland,no. 44179/98, § 73, ECHR 2003-IX).

110.  This margin of appreciationgoes hand in hand with a European supervisionembracing both the law and the decisions applying it. The Courts task is to determine whether the measures taken at national level were justified in principle and proportionate (see Manoussakis and Others, cited above, p. 1364, § 44). In delimiting the extent of the margin of appreciation in the present case, the Court must have regard towhat is at stake, namely the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others, to preserve public order andto secure civil peace and true religious pluralism, which is vital to the survival of a democratic society (see, mutatis mutandis, Kokkinakis, cited above, p. 17, §31;Manoussakis and Others, cited above, p. 1364, § 44; and Casado Coca, cited above, p. 21, § 55).

111.  The Court also notes that in the decisions inKaraduman v.Turkey (no. 16278/90, Commission decision of 3 May 1993, DR 74, p. 93) and Dahlab(cited above) the Convention institutions found that in a democratic society the State was entitled to place restrictions on the wearing of the Islamic headscarf if it was incompatible with the pursued aim of protecting the rights and freedoms of others, public order and public safety. In Karaduman, measures taken in universities to prevent certain fundamentalist religious movements from exerting pressure on students who did not practise their religion or who belonged to another religion were not considered to constitute interference for the purposes of Article 9 of the Convention. Consequently, it is established that institutions of higher education may regulate the manifestation of the rites and symbols of a religion by imposing restrictions as to the place and manner of such manifestation with the aim of ensuring peaceful coexistence between students of various faiths and thus protecting public order and the beliefs of others (see, among other authorities, RefahPartisi(the Welfare Party) and Others, cited above, §95). In Dahlab, which concerned the teacher of a class of small children, the Court stressed among other matters the “powerful external symbol” which her wearing a headscarf represented and questioned whether it might have some kind of proselytising effect, seeing that it appeared to be imposed on women by a religious precept that was hard to reconcile with the principle of gender equality. It also noted that wearing the Islamic headscarf could not easily be reconciled with the message of tolerance, respect for others and, above all, equality and non-discrimination that all teachers in a democratic society should convey to their pupils.

(ii)  Application of the foregoing principles to the present case

112.  The interference in issue caused by the circular of 23 February 1998 imposing restrictions as to place and manner on the rights of students such as Ms Şahin to wear the Islamic headscarf on university premises was, according to the Turkish courts (see paragraphs 37, 39 and 41 above),based in particular on the two principles of secularism and equality.

113.  In its judgment of 7 March 1989, the Constitutional Court stated that secularism, asthe guarantor of democratic values, was the meeting point of liberty and equality. The principle prevented the State from manifesting a preference for a particular religion or belief;it therebyguidedthe State in its role of impartial arbiter, and necessarily entailed freedom of religion and conscience. It also served to protect the individual not only against arbitrary interference by the State but from external pressure from extremist movements. The Constitutional Court added that freedom to manifest ones religion could be restricted in order to defend those values and principles (see paragraph 39 above).

114.  As the Chamber rightly stated (see paragraph 106 of its judgment), the Court considers this notion of secularism to be consistent with the values underpinning the Convention.It finds that upholding that principle, which is undoubtedly one of the fundamental principles of the TurkishState which are in harmony with the rule of law and respect for human rights,may beconsidered necessary to protect the democratic system in Turkey.An attitude which fails to respect that principle will not necessarily be accepted as being covered by the freedom to manifest ones religion and will not enjoy the protection of Article 9 of the Convention (see RefahPartisi (the Welfare Party) and Others, cited above, § 93).

115.  After examining the partiessubmissions, the Grand Chamber sees no good reason to depart from the approach taken by the Chamber (see paragraphs 107-09 of the Chamber judgment) as follows:

... The Court ... notes the emphasis placed in the Turkish constitutional system on the protection of the rights of women... Gender equality – recognised by the European Court as one of the key principles underlying the Convention and a goal to be achieved by member States of the Council of Europe (see, among other authorities, Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 28 May 1985, Series A no. 94, pp. 37-38, § 78; Schuler-Zgraggenv. Switzerland, judgment of 24 June 1993, Series A no. 263, pp. 21-22, § 67; Burgharz v. Switzerland, judgment of 22 February 1994, Series A no. 280-B, p. 29, § 27; Van Raalte v. the Netherlands, judgment of 21February 1997, Reports 1997-I, p. 186, § 39 in fine; andPetrovic v. Austria, judgment of 27 March 1998, Reports 1998-II, p. 587, §37) was also found by the Turkish Constitutional Court to be a principle implicit in the values underlying the Constitution...

... In addition, like the Constitutional Court..., the Court considers that, when examining the question of the Islamic headscarf in the Turkish context, it must be borne in mind the impact which wearing such a symbol, which is presented or perceived as a compulsory religious duty, may have on those who choose not to wear it. As has already been noted (see Karaduman,decision cited above, andRefahPartisi(the Welfare Party) and Others, cited above, § 95), the issues at stake include the protection of the rights and freedoms of others and the maintenance of public order in a country in which the majority of the population, while professing a strong attachment to the rights of women and a secular way of life, adhere to the Islamic faith. Imposing limitations on freedom in this sphere may, therefore, be regarded as meeting a pressing social need by seeking to achieve those two legitimate aims, especially since, as the Turkish courts stated..., this religious symbol has taken on political significance in Turkey in recent years.

... The Court does not lose sight of the fact that there are extremist political movements in Turkey which seek to impose on society as a whole their religious symbols and conception of a society founded on religious precepts...It has previously said that each Contracting State may, in accordance with the Convention provisions, take a stance against such political movements, based on its historical experience (see RefahPartisi(the Welfare Party) and Others, cited above, § 124). The regulations concerned have to be viewed in that context and constitute a measure intended to achieve the legitimate aims referred to above and thereby to preserve pluralism in the university.

116.  Having regard to the above background, it is the principle of secularism, as elucidated by the Constitutional Court (see paragraph39 above), which is the paramount consideration underlying the ban on the wearing of religious symbols in universities. In such a context, where the values of pluralism, respect for the rights of others and, in particular, equality before the law of men and women are being taught and applied in practice, it is understandable that the relevant authorities should wish to preserve the secular nature of the institution concerned and soconsider it contrary to such values to allow religious attire, including, as in the present case, the Islamic headscarf, to be worn.

117.  The Court must now determine whether in the instant case there was a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means employed and the legitimate objectives pursued by the interference.

118.  Like the Chamber (see paragraph 111 of its judgment), the Grand Chamber notes at the outset that it is common ground that practising Muslim students in Turkish universities are free,within the limits imposed by the constraints of educational organisation, to manifest their religion in accordance with habitual forms of Muslim observance. In addition, the resolution adopted by IstanbulUniversity on 9July 1998 shows that various other forms of religious attireare also forbidden on the university premises (see paragraph 47 above).

119.  It should also be noted that, when the issue of whether students should be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf surfaced at IstanbulUniversity in 1994 in relation to the medical courses, the Vice-Chancellor reminded them of the reasons for the rules on dress. Arguing that calls for permission to wear the Islamic headscarf inall parts of the university premises weremisconceived and pointing to the public-order constraints applicable to medical courses,he asked the students to abide by the rules, which were consistent with both the legislation and the case-law of the higher courts (see paragraphs 43-44 above).

120.  Furthermore, the process whereby the regulations that led to the decision of 9 July 1998 were implemented took several years and was accompanied by a wide debate within Turkish society and the teachingprofession(see paragraph 35 above). The two highest courts, the Supreme Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court, have managed to establish settled case-law on this issue (see paragraphs 37, 39 and41 above). It is quite clear that throughout that decision-making process the university authorities sought to adapt to the evolving situation in a way that would not bar access to the university to students wearing the veil, through continued dialogue with those concerned, while at the same time ensuring that order was maintained and in particular that the requirements imposed by the nature of the course in question were complied with.

121.  In that connection, the Court does not accept the applicants submission that the fact that there were no disciplinary penalties for failing to comply with the dress code effectively meantthat no rulesexisted (see paragraph 81 above). As to how compliance with the internal rules should have been secured, it is not for the Court to substitute its view for that of the university authorities. By reason of their direct and continuous contact with the education community, the university authorities are in principle better placed than an international court to evaluate local needs and conditions or the requirements of a particular course (see, mutatis mutandis, Valsamisv. Greece, judgment of 18 December 1996, Reports 1996VI, p. 2325, §32). Besides, having found that the regulations pursued a legitimate aim, it is not open to the Courttoapply the criterion of proportionality in a way that would make the notion of an institutions “internal rulesdevoid of purpose. Article 9 does not always guarantee the right to behave in a manner governed by a religious belief (see PichonandSajousv. France (dec.), no. 49853/99, ECHR 2001X) and does not confer on people who do so the right to disregard rules that have proved to be justified (see Valsamis, cited above,opinion of the Commission, p. 2337, § 51).

122.  In the light of the foregoing and having regard to the Contracting Statesmargin of appreciation in this sphere, the Court finds that the interference in issue was justified in principle and proportionate to the aim pursued.

123.  Consequently, there has been no breach of Article 9 of the Convention.

II.  ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 2 OF PROTOCOL No. 1

A.  Whether a separate examination of this complaint is necessary

1.  The parties submissions

124.  The Court notes that, although the applicant relied on various provisions of the Convention (Articles 8, 10 and 14, and Article 2 of Protocol No. 1) before the Chamber, her principal argument was that there had been a violation of Article 9 of the Convention. In her request for a referral, the applicant asked the Grand Chamber to find a violation of Articles 8, 9, 10 and 14 of the Convention and of Article2 of Protocol No. 1. She did not make any legal submissions with regard to Article 10.

125.  In her written pleadings of 27 January 2005, however, the applicant appears to present her case concerning the regulations of 23February 1998 in a different light to that in which it had been presented before the Chamber. In those pleadings, she “allege[d] as her main submission a violation of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 and request[ed] the Grand Chamber to hold accordingly”. Among other things, she asked the Court to “find that the decision to refuse [her] access to the university when wearing the Islamic headscarf amount[ed] in the present case to a violation of her right to education, as guaranteed by Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, read in the light of Articles8, 9 and 10 of the Convention”.

126.  The Government submitted that there had been no violation of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1.

2.  The Chamber judgment

127.  The Chamber found that no separate question arose under Articles 8, 10 and 14 of the Convention or Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, the provisions that had been relied on by the applicant, as the relevant circumstances were the same as those it had examined in relation to Article 9,in respect of which it had found no violation.

3.  The Courts assessment

128.  The Court observes that under its case-law that is now well-established, the “case” referred to the Grand Chamber necessarily embraces all aspects of the application previously examined by the Chamber in its judgment, there being no basis for a merely partial referral of the case to the Grand Chamber (see, as the most recent authorities, Cumpănă and Mazăre v. Romania [GC], no. 33348/96, § 66, ECHR 2004-XI, and K. and T. v. Finland [GC], no. 25702/94, §§ 140-41, ECHR 2001-VII). The “case” referred to the Grand Chamber is the application as it has been declared admissible.

129.  The Court considers that, having regard to the special circumstances of the case, the fundamental importance of the right to education and the position of the parties, the complaint under the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 can be considered as separate from the complaint under Article 9 of the Convention, notwithstanding the fact that, as was the case with Article 9, the substance of the complaint is criticism of the regulations that were issued on 23February 1998.

130.  In conclusion, the Court will examine this complaint separately (see, mutatis mutandis, Göç v. Turkey [GC], no. 36590/97, § 46, ECHR 2002V).

B.  Applicability

131.  The applicant alleged a violation of the first sentence of Article2 of Protocol No. 1, which provides:

“No person shall be denied the right to education.”

Scope of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1

(a)  The parties submissions to the Grand Chamber

132.  The applicant said that there was no doubt that the right to education, as guaranteed by the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No.1, applied to higher education, since that provision applied to all institutions existing at a given time.

133.  The Government did not comment on this issue.

(b)  The Courts assessment

134.  The first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 provides that no one shall be denied the right to education. Although the provision makes no mention of higher education, there is nothing to suggest that it does not apply to all levels of education, including higher education.

135.  As to the content of the right to education and the scope of the obligation it imposes, the Court notes that in the Case “relating to certain aspects of laws on the use of languages in education in Belgium(the Belgian linguistic case(merits), judgment of 23 July 1968, Series A no. 6, pp. 30-31, § 3), it stated: “The negative formulation indicates, as is confirmed by the preparatory work..., that the Contracting Parties do not recognise such a right to education as would require them to establish at their own expense, or to subsidise, education of any particular type or at any particular level. However, it cannot be concluded from this that the State has no positive obligation to ensure respect for such a right as is protected by Article 2 of the Protocol. As a right does exist, it is secured, by virtue of Article 1 of the Convention, to everyone within the jurisdiction of a ContractingState.

136.  The Court does not lose sight of the fact that the development of the right to education, whose content varies from one time or place to another according to economic and social circumstances, mainly depends on the needs and resources of the community. However, it is of crucial importance that the Convention is interpreted and applied in a manner which renders its rights practical and effective, not theoretical and illusory. Moreover, the Convention is a living instrument which must be interpreted in the light of present-day conditions (see Marckx v. Belgium, judgment of 13 June 1979, Series A no. 31, p. 19, § 41; Airey v. Ireland, judgment of 9 October 1979, Series A no. 32, pp. 14-15, § 26; and, as the most recent authority, Mamatkulov and Askarov v. Turkey [GC], nos. 46827/99 and 46951/99, § 121, ECHR 2005-I). While the first sentence of Article2 essentially establishes access to primary and secondary education, there is no watertight division separating higher education from other forms of education. In a number of recently adopted instruments, the Council of Europe has stressed the key role and importance of higher education in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the strengthening of democracy (see, inter alia, RecommendationNo. R (98) 3 and Recommendation 1353 (1998) – cited in paragraphs 68 and 69 above). As the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (see paragraph 67 above) states, higher education “is instrumental in the pursuit and advancement of knowledge” and “constitutes an exceptionally rich cultural and scientific asset for both individuals and society”.

137.  Consequently, it would be hard to imagine that institutions of higher education existing at a given time do not come within the scope of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No 1. Although that Article does not impose a duty on the Contracting States to set up institutions of higher education, any State doing so will be under an obligation to afford an effective right of access to them. In a democratic society, the right to education, which is indispensable to the furtherance of human rights, plays such a fundamental role that a restrictive interpretation of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 would not be consistent with the aim or purpose of that provision (see, mutatis mutandis, the Belgian linguistic case, cited above, pp. 33-34, § 9, and Delcourt v. Belgium, judgment of 17 January 1970, Series A no. 11, pp. 13-15, § 25).

138.  This approach is in line with the Commissions report in the Belgian linguistic case (judgment cited above, p. 22), in which as far back as 1965 it stated that, although the scope of the right protected by Article2 of Protocol No. 1 was not defined or specified in the Convention, it included, “for the purposes of examining the present case”, “entry to nursery, primary, secondary and higher education”.

139.  The Commission subsequently observed in a series of decisions: “[T]he right to education envisaged in Article 2 is concerned primarily with elementary education and not necessarily advanced studies such as technology (see X v. the United Kingdom, no. 5962/72, Commission decision of 13March 1975, DR 2, p. 50, and Kramelius v. Sweden, no. 21062/92, Commission decision of 17 January 1996, unreported). In more recent cases, leaving the door open to the application of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 to university education, it examined the legitimacy of certain restrictions on access to institutions of higher education(see, with regard to restrictions on access to higher education, X v.the United Kingdom, no. 8844/80, Commission decision of 9 December 1980, DR 23, p. 228; and with regard to suspension or expulsion from educational institutions, Yanasik v. Turkey, no.14524/89, Commission decision of 6 January 1993, DR 74, p. 14, and Sulak v.Turkey, no.24515/94, Commission decision of 17 January 1996, DR 84-A, p. 98).

140.  For its part, after the Belgian linguistic case the Court declared a series of cases on higher education inadmissible, not because the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 was inapplicable, but on other grounds (complaint of a disabled person who did not satisfy a universitys entrance requirements, Lukach v. Russia (dec.), no. 48041/99, 16 November 1999; refusal of permission to an applicant in custody to prepare for and sit a final university examination for a legal diploma, Georgiou v. Greece (dec.), no.45138/98, 13 January 2000; interruption of advanced studies by a valid conviction and sentence, Durmaz and Others v. Turkey (dec.), nos. 46506/99, 46569/99, 46570/99 and 46939/99, 4 September 2001).

141.  In the light of all the foregoing considerations, it is clear that any institutions of higher educationexisting at a given time come within the scope of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No.1, since the right of access to such institutions is an inherent part of the right set out in that provision. This is not an extensive interpretation forcing new obligations on the Contracting States: it is based on the very terms of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No.1 read in its context and having regard to the object and purpose of the Convention, a law-making treaty (see, mutatis mutandis, Golder v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 21 February 1975, Series A no. 18, p. 18, § 36).

142.   Consequently, the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No.1 is applicable in the instant case. The manner in which it is applied will, however, obviously depend on the special features of the right to education.

C.  Merits

1.  The parties submissions to the Grand Chamber

(a)  The applicant

143.  The applicant submitted that the ban imposed by the public authorities on wearing the Islamic headscarf clearly constituted interference with her right to education, which had resulted in her being refused access to oncology examinations on 12 March 1998, prevented fromenrolling with the universitys administrative department on 20 March 1998, and refused access to a lecture on neurology on 16April 1998 and a written examination on public health on 10June 1998.

144.  She accepted that, by its nature, the right to education had to be regulated by the State. In herview, the criteria to be used in the regulations should be the same as those applicable to permitted interference under Articles 8 to 11 of the Convention. In that connection, she pointed to the lack of any provision in Turkish domestic law preventing the pursuit of higher education and said that the vice-chancellors offices had no authority or power under the laws in force to refuse students wearing the headscarf access to university.

145.  The applicant said that despite wearing the headscarf she had been able to enrol at the university and pursue her studies there without incident for four and a half years. She therefore argued that at the time of her enrolment at the university and while pursuing her studies there had been no domestic source of law that would have enabled her to foresee that she would be denied access to the lecture theatres a number of years later.

146.  Whilereiterating that the measures taken in her case were disproportionate to the aim pursued, the applicant accepted that it was in principle legitimate for institutions of higher education to seek to provide education in a calm and safe environment. However, as the lack of any disciplinary proceedings against her showed, her wearing the Islamic headscarf had not in any way prejudiced public order or infringed the rights and freedoms of the other students. Furthermore, in her submission, the relevant university authorities had had sufficient means at their disposal to guarantee the maintenance of public order, such as bringing disciplinary proceedings or lodging a criminal complaint if a students conduct contravened the criminal law.

147.  The applicant argued that making the pursuit of her studies conditional on her abandoning the headscarf and refusing her access to educational institutions if she refused to comply with that condition had effectively and wrongfully violated the substance of her right to education and rendered it ineffective. This had been compounded by the fact that she was a young adult with a fully developed personality and social and moral values who was deprived of all possibility of pursuing her studies in Turkey in a manner consistent with her beliefs.

148.  For all these reasons, the applicant submitted that the respondent State had overstepped the limits of its margin of appreciation, however wide it might be, and violated her right to education, read in the light of Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the Convention.

(b)  The Government

149.  Referring to the case-law of the Court, the Government observed that the Contracting States had a margin of appreciation to determine how to regulate education.

150.  They added that the applicant had enrolled at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine at IstanbulUniversity after studying for five years at the Faculty of Medicine of Bursa University, where she had worn the headscarf. The Vice-Chancellor of Istanbul University had issued a circular prohibiting students from wearing the headscarf in the university. The ban was based on judgments of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. As the application and the request for a referral to the Grand Chamber indicated, the applicant had not encountered any difficulty in enrolling at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, which proved that she had enjoyed equality of treatment in the right of access to educational institutions. As regards the interference caused by the implementation of the circular of 23 February 1998, the Government confined themselves to saying that it had been the subject of scrutiny by the courts.

151.  The Government concluded by asking for the judgment of the Chamber to be upheld, arguing that the regulations in issue did not contravene the Courts case-law, having regard to the margin of appreciation accorded to the Contracting States.

2.  The Courts assessment

(a)  General principles

152.  The right to education, as set out in the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, guarantees everyone within the jurisdiction of the Contracting States “a right of access to educational institutions existing at a given time”, but such access constitutes only a part of the right to education. For that right “to be effective, it is further necessary that, inter alia, the individual who is the beneficiary should have the possibility of drawing profit from the education received, that is to say, the right to obtain, in conformity with the rules in force in each State, and in one form or another, official recognition of the studies which he has completed” (see the Belgian linguistic case, cited above, pp. 30-32, §§ 3-5; see also Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen v. Denmark, judgment of 7 December 1976, Series A no. 23, pp. 25-26, § 52). Similarly, implicit in the phrase “No person shall...” is the principle of equality of treatment of all citizens in the exercise of their right to education.

153.  The fundamental right of everyone to education is a right guaranteed equally to pupils in State and independent schools, without distinction (see Costello-Roberts v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 25 March 1993, Series A no. 247C, p. 58, § 27).

154.  In spite of its importance, this right is not, however, absolute, but may be subject to limitations; these are permitted by implication since the right of access “by its very nature calls for regulation by the State” (see the Belgian linguistic case, cited above, p. 32, § 5; see also, mutatis mutandis, Golder, cited above, pp. 18-19, § 38, and Fayed v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 21 September 1994, Series A no.294B, pp.49-50, §65). Admittedly, the regulation of educational institutions may vary in time and in place, inter alia, according to the needs and resources of the community and the distinctivefeatures of different levels of education. Consequently, the Contracting States enjoy a certain margin of appreciation in this sphere, although the final decision as to the observance of the Conventions requirements rests with the Court. In order to ensure that the restrictions that are imposed do not curtail the right in question to such an extent as to impair its very essence and deprive it of its effectiveness, the Court must satisfy itself that they are foreseeable for those concerned and pursue a legitimate aim. However, unlike the position with respect to Articles8 to 11 of the Convention, it is not bound by an exhaustive list of “legitimate aims” under Article 2 of Protocol No.1 (see, mutatis mutandis, Podkolzina v. Latvia, no.46726/99, §36, ECHR 2002II). Furthermore, a limitation will only be compatible with Article 2 of Protocol No.1 if there is a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means employed and the aim sought to be achieved.

155.  Such restrictions must not conflict with other rights enshrined in the Convention and its Protocols either (see the Belgian linguistic case, cited above, p.32, § 5;Campbell and Cosans v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 25 February 1982, Series A no. 48, p.19, § 41; and Yanasik, decision cited above). The provisions of the Convention and its Protocols must be considered as a whole. Accordingly, the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 must, where appropriate, be read in the light in particular of Articles 8, 9 and10 of the Convention (see Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen, cited above, p. 26, § 52 in fine).

156.  The right to education does not in principle exclude recourse to disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion from an educational institution in order to ensure compliance with its internal rules. The imposition of disciplinary penalties is an integral part of the process whereby a school seeks to achieve the object for which it was established, including the development and moulding of the character and mental powers of its pupils (see, among other authorities, Campbell and Cosans, judgment cited above, p.14, § 33; see also, with respect to the expulsion of a cadet from a military academy, Yanasik, decision cited above, and the expulsion of a student for fraud, Sulak, decisioncited above).

(b)  Application of these principles to the present case

157.  By analogy with its reasoning on the question of the existence of interference under Article 9 of the Convention (see paragraph 78 above), the Court is able to accept that the regulations on the basis of which the applicant was refused access to various lectures and examinations for wearing the Islamic headscarf constituted a restriction on her right to education, notwithstanding the fact that she had had access to the university and been able to read the subject of her choice in accordance with the results she had achieved in the university entrance examination. However, an analysis of the case by reference to the right to education cannot in this instance be divorced from the conclusion reached by the Court with respect to Article 9 (see paragraph 122 above), astheconsiderations taken into account under that provision are clearly applicable to the complaint under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, which complaint consists of criticism of the regulation concerned that takes much the same form asthat made with respect to Article 9.

158.  In that connection, the Court has already found that the restriction was foreseeable to those concerned and pursued the legitimate aims of protecting the rights and freedoms of others and maintaining public order (see paragraphs 98 and 99 above). The obvious purpose of the restriction was to preserve the secular character of educational institutions.

159.  As regards the principle of proportionality, the Court found in paragraphs 118 to 121 above that there was a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means used and the aim pursued. In so finding, it relied in particular on the following factors which are clearly relevant here. Firstly, the measures in question manifestly did not hinder the students in performing the duties imposed by the habitual forms of religious observance. Secondly, the decision-making process for applying the internal regulations satisfied, so far as was possible, the requirement to weigh up the various interests at stake. The university authorities judiciously sought a means whereby they could avoid having to turn away students wearing the headscarf and at the same time honour their obligation to protect the rights of others and the interests of the education system. Lastly, the process also appears to have been accompanied by safeguards – the rule requiring conformity with statute and judicial review – that were apt to protect the students interests (see paragraph 95 above).

160.  It would, furthermore,be unrealistic to imagine that the applicant, a medical student, was unaware of IstanbulUniversitys internal regulations restricting the places where religious dress could be worn orhad not been sufficiently informed about the reasons for their introduction. She could reasonably have foreseen that she ran the risk of being refused access to lectures and examinations if,as subsequently happened, she continued to wear the Islamic headscarf after 23February 1998.

161.  Consequently, the restriction in question did not impair the very essence of the applicants right to education. In addition, in the light of its findings with respect to the other Articles relied on by the applicant (see paragraphs 122 above and 166 below), the Court observes that the restriction did not conflict with other rights enshrined in the Convention or its Protocols either.

162.  In conclusion, there has been no violation of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1.


III.  ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLES 8, 10 AND 14 OF THE CONVENTION

163.  As she had done before the Chamber, the applicant alleged a violation of Articles 8, 10 and 14 of the Convention, arguing that the impugned regulations had infringed her right to respect for her private life and her right to freedom of expression and was discriminatory.

164.  The Court, however, does not find any violation of Articles 8 or10 of the Convention, the arguments advanced by the applicant being a mere reformulation of her complaint under Article 9 of the Convention and Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, in respect of which the Court has concluded that there has been no violation.

165.  As regards the complaint under Article 14, taken alone or in conjunction with Article 9 of the Convention or the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, the Court notes that the applicant did not provide detailed particulars in her pleadings before the Grand Chamber. Furthermore, as has already been noted (see paragraphs 99 and 158 above), the regulations on the Islamic headscarf were not directed against the applicants religious affiliation, but pursued, among other things, the legitimate aim of protecting order and the rights and freedoms of others and were manifestly intended to preserve the secular nature of educational institutions. Consequently, the reasons which led the Court to conclude that there has been no violation of Article9 of the Convention or Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 incontestably also apply to the complaint under Article 14, taken alone or in conjunction with the aforementioned provisions.

166.  Consequently, the Court holds that there has been no violation of Articles 8, 10 or 14 of the Convention.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT

1.  Holds, by sixteen votes to one, that there has been no violation of Article 9 of the Convention;

2.  Holds, by sixteen votes to one, that there has been no violation of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1;

3.  Holds, unanimously, that there has been no violation of Article 8 of the Convention;

4.  Holds, unanimously, that there has been no violation of Article 10 of the Convention;

5.  Holds, unanimously, that there has been no violation of Article 14 of the Convention.

Done in English and in French, and delivered at a public hearing in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on 10 November 2005.

Luzius Wildhaber, President
LawrenceEarly, Deputy to the Registrar

In accordance with Article 45 § 2 of the Convention and Rule 74 § 2 of the Rules of Court, the following separate opinions are annexed to this judgment:

(a)  joint concurring opinion of Mr Rozakis and Mrs Vajić;

(b)  dissenting opinion of Mrs Tulkens.

L.W.
T.L.E.

 

JOINT CONCURRING OPINION
OF JUDGES ROZAKISAND VAJIĆ

We agree with the majority that there has been no violation of Article9 of the Convention in the present case. We have also voted for the finding that there was no violation of the first sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, mainly because the text of the judgment is drafted in such a way that it makes it difficult to divide these two findings. As stated in paragraph 157 of the judgment, the “analysis of the case by reference to the right to education cannot in this instance be divorced from the conclusion reached by the Court with respect to Article9..., as the considerations taken into account under that provision are clearly applicable to the complaint under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, which complaint consists of criticism of the regulation concerned that takes much the same form as that made with respect to Article 9”.

In fact, however, we are of the opinion that the case would have been better dealt with only under Article 9, the way it was done in the Chamber judgment. As we see it, the main issue before the Court was the interference of the State with the applicants right to wear the headscarf at the university and, through that, to manifest in public her religious beliefs. Hence, the central question in the case was the protection of her religious freedom as enshrined in Article 9 of the Convention. Article 9 is, in the circumstances, the obvious lex specialis covering the facts of the case, and the applicants corollary complaint concerning the same facts under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, although clearly admissible, does not raise a separate issue under the Convention.


DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE TULKENS

(Translation)

For a variety of mutually supporting reasons, I did not vote with the majority on the question of Article 9 of the Convention or of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, which concerns the right to education. I do, however, fully agree with the Courts ruling that the scope of the latter provision extends to higher and university education.

A.  Freedom of religion

1.  As regards the general principles reiterated in the judgment, there are points on which I strongly agree with the majority (see paragraphs104-08 of the judgment). The right to freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 9 of the Convention is a “precious asset” not only for believers, but also for atheists, agnostics, sceptics and the unconcerned. It is true that Article9 of the Convention does not protect every act motivated or inspired by a religion or belief and that in democratic societies, in which several religions coexist, it may be necessary to place restrictions on freedom to manifest ones religion in order to reconcile the interests of the various groups and ensure that everyones beliefs are respected (see paragraph106 of the judgment). Further, pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness are hallmarks of a democratic society and this entails certain consequences. The first is that these ideals and values of a democratic society must also be based on dialogue and a spirit of compromise, which necessarily entails mutual concessions on the part of individuals. The second is that the role of the authorities in such circumstances is not to remove the cause of the tensions by eliminating pluralism, but, as the Court again reiterated only recently, to ensure that the competing groups tolerate each other (see Ouranio Toxo and Others v. Greece, no. 74989/01, § 40, ECHR 2005-X).

2.  Once the majority had accepted that the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf on university premises constituted interference with the applicants right under Article 9 of the Convention to manifest her religion, and that the ban was prescribed by law and pursued a legitimate aim – in this case the protection of the rights and freedom of others and of public order – the main issue became whether such interference was “necessary in a democratic society”. Owing to its nature, the Courts review must be conducted in concreto, in principle by reference to three criteria: firstly, whether the interference, which must be capable of protecting the legitimate interest that has been put at risk, was appropriate; secondly, whether the measure that has been chosen is the measure that is the least restrictive of the right or freedom concerned; and, lastly, whether the measure was proportionate, a question which entails a balancing of the competing interests[1].

Underlying the majoritys approach is the margin of appreciation which the national authorities are recognised as possessing and which reflects, inter alia, the notion that they are “better placed” to decide how best to discharge their Convention obligations in what is a sensitive area (see paragraph 109 of the judgment). The Courts jurisdiction is, of course, subsidiary and its role is not to impose uniform solutions, especially “with regard to establishment of the delicate relations between the Churches and the State” (see Chaare Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France [GC], no.27417/95, § 84, ECHR 2000-VII), even if, in certain other judgments concerning conflicts between religious communities, the Court has not always shown the same judicial restraint (see Serif v. Greece, no.38178/97, ECHR 1999-IX, andMetropolitan Church of Bessarabia and Others v. Moldova, no. 45701/99, ECHR 2001-XII). I therefore entirely agree with the view that the Court must seek to reconcile universality and diversity and that it is not its role to express an opinion on any religious model whatsoever.

3.  I would perhaps have been able to follow the margin-of-appreciation approach had two factors not drastically reduced its relevance in the instant case. The first concerns the argument the majority use to justify the width of the margin, namely the diversity of practice between the States on the issue of regulating the wearing of religious symbols in educational institutions and, thus, the lack of a European consensus in this sphere. The comparative-law materials do not allow of such a conclusion, as in none of the member States has the ban on wearing religious symbols extended to university education, which is intended for young adults, who are less amenable to pressure. The second factor concerns the European supervision that must accompany the margin of appreciation and which, even though less extensive than in cases in which the national authorities have no margin of appreciation, goes hand in hand with it. However, other than in connection with Turkeys specific historical background, European supervision seems quite simply to be absent from the judgment. However, the issue raised in the application, whose significance to the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Convention is evident, is not merely a “local” issue, but one of importance to all the member States. European supervision cannot, therefore, be escaped simply by invoking the margin of appreciation.

4.  On what grounds was the interference with the applicants right to freedom of religion through the ban on wearing the headscarf based? In the present case, relying exclusively on the reasons cited by the national authorities and courts, the majority put forward, in general and abstract terms, two main arguments: secularism and equality. While I fully and totally subscribe to each of these principles, I disagree with the manner inwhich they were applied here and to the way they were interpreted in relation to the practice of wearing the headscarf. In a democratic society, I believe that it is necessary to seek to harmonise the principles of secularism, equality and liberty, not to weigh one against the other.

5.  As regards, firstly, secularism, I would reiterate that I consider it an essential principle and one which, as the Constitutional Court stated in its judgment of 7 March 1989, is undoubtedly necessary for the protection of the democratic system in Turkey. Religious freedom is, however, also a founding principle of democratic societies. Accordingly, the fact that the Grand Chamber recognised the force of the principle of secularism did not release it from its obligation to establish that the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf to which the applicant was subject was necessary to secure compliance with that principle and, therefore, met a “pressing social need”. Only indisputable facts and reasons whose legitimacy is beyond doubt – not mere worries or fears – are capable of satisfying that requirement and justifying interference with a right guaranteed by the Convention. Moreover, where there has been interference with a fundamental right, the Courts case-law clearly establishes that mere affirmations do not suffice: they must be supported by concrete examples (see Smith and Grady v.the United Kingdom, nos. 33985/96 and 33986/96, § 89, ECHR 1999-VI). Such examples do not appear to have been forthcoming in the present case.

6.  Under Article 9 of the Convention, the freedom with which this case is concerned is not freedom to have a religion (the internal conviction) but to manifest ones religion (the expression of that conviction). If the Court has been very protective (perhaps overprotective) of religious sentiment (see Otto-Preminger-Institut v. Austria, judgment of 20 September 1994, Series A no.295-A, andWingrove v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 25 November 1996, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1996-V), it has shown itself less willing to intervene in cases concerning religious practices (see Chaare Shalom Ve Tsedek, cited above,and Dahlab v.Switzerland (dec.), no. 42393/98, ECHR 2001-V), which only appear to receive a subsidiary form of protection (see paragraph 105 of the judgment). This is, in fact, an aspect of freedom of religion with which the Court has rarely been confronted up to now and on which it has not yet had an opportunity to form an opinion with regard to external symbols of religious practice, such as particular items of clothing, whose symbolic importance may vary greatly according to the faith concerned[2].

7.  Referring to Refah Partisi (the Welfare Party) and Others v. Turkey([GC], nos. 41340/98, 41342/98, 41343/98 and 41344/98, ECHR 2003-II), the judgment states: “An attitude which fails to respect that principle [of secularism] will not necessarily be accepted as being covered by the freedom to manifest ones religion” (see paragraph 114). The majority thus consider that wearing the headscarf contravenes the principle of secularism. In so doing, they take up position on an issue that has been the subject of much debate, namely the signification of wearing the headscarf and its relationship with the principle of secularism[3].

In the present case, a generalised assessment of that type gives rise to at least three difficulties. Firstly, the judgment does not address the applicants argument – which the Government did not dispute – that she had no intention of calling the principle of secularism, a principle with which she agreed, into question. Secondly, there is no evidence to show that the applicant, through her attitude, conduct or acts, contravened that principle. This is a test the Court has always applied in its case-law (see Kokkinakis v. Greece, judgment of 25 May 1993, Series A no. 260-A, andUnited Communist Party of Turkey and Others v. Turkey, judgment of 30 January 1998, Reports 1998-I). Lastly, the judgment makes no distinction between teachers and students, whereas in Dahlab (decision cited above), which concerned a teacher, the Court expressly noted the role-model aspect which the teachers wearing the headscarf had. While the principle of secularism requires education to be provided without any manifestation ofreligion and while it has to be compulsory for teachers and all public servants, as they have voluntarily taken up posts in a neutral environment, the position of pupils and students seems to me to be different.

8.  Freedom to manifest a religion entails everyone being allowed to exercise that right, whether individually or collectively, in public or in private, subject to the dual condition that they do not infringe the rights and freedoms of others and do not prejudice public order (Article 9 § 2).

As regards the first condition, this could have not been satisfied if the headscarf the applicant wore as a religious symbol had been ostentatious or aggressive or was used to exert pressure, to provoke a reaction, to proselytise or to spread propaganda and undermined – or was liable to undermine – the convictions of others. However, the Government did not argue that this was the case and there was no evidence before the Court to suggest that Ms Şahin had any such intention. As to the second condition, it has been neither suggested nor demonstrated that there was any disruption in teaching or in everyday life at the university, or any disorderly conduct, as a result of the applicants wearing the headscarf. Indeed, no disciplinary proceedings were taken against her.

9.  The majority maintain, however, that, “when examining the question of the Islamic headscarf in the Turkish context, it must be borne in mind the impact which wearing such a symbol, which is presented or perceived as a compulsory religious duty, may have on those who choose not to wear it” (see paragraph 115 of the judgment).

Unless the level of protection of the right to freedom of religion is reduced to take account of the context, the possible effect which wearing the headscarf, which is presented as a symbol, may have on those who do not wear it does not appear to me, in the light of the Courts case-law, to satisfy the requirement of a pressing social need. Mutatis mutandis, in the sphere of freedom of expression (Article 10), the Court has never accepted that interference with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression can be justified by the fact that the ideas or views concerned are not shared by everyone and may even offend some people. Recently, in Gündüz v.Turkey(no. 35071/97, ECHR 2003-XI), the Court held that there had been a violation of freedom of expression where a Muslim religious leader had been convicted for violently criticising the secular regime in Turkey, calling for the introduction of the sharia and referring to children born of marriages celebrated solely before the secular authorities as “bastards”. Thus, manifesting ones religion by peacefully wearing a headscarf may be prohibited whereas, in the same context, remarks which could be construed as incitement to religious hatred are covered by freedom of expression[4].

10.  In fact, it is the threat posed by “extremist political movements” seeking to “impose on society as a whole their religious symbols and conception of a society founded on religious precepts” which, in the Courts view, serves to justify the regulations in issue, which constitute “a measure intended to ... preserve pluralism in the university” (see paragraph115 in fineof the judgment). The Court had already made this clear in Refah Partisi (the Welfare Party) and Others (cited above, § 95), when it stated: “In a country like Turkey, where the great majority of the population belong to a particular religion, measures taken in universities to prevent certain fundamentalist religious movements from exerting pressure on students who do not practise that religion or on those who belong to another religion may be justified under Article 9 § 2 of the Convention.

While everyone agrees on the need to prevent radical Islamism, a serious objection may nevertheless be made to such reasoning. Merely wearing the headscarf cannot be associated with fundamentalism and it is vital to distinguish between those who wear the headscarf and “extremists” who seek to impose the headscarf as they do other religious symbols. Not all women who wear the headscarf are fundamentalists and there is nothing to suggest that the applicant held fundamentalist views. She is a young adult woman and a university student, and might reasonably be expected to have a heightened capacity to resist pressure, it being noted in this connection that the judgment fails to provide any concrete example of the type of pressure concerned. The applicants personal interest in exercising the right to freedom of religion and to manifest her religion by an external symbol cannot be wholly absorbed by the public interest in fighting extremism[5].

11.  Turning to equality, the majority focus on the protection of womens rights and the principle of sexual equality (see paragraphs 115 and 116 of the judgment). Wearing the headscarf is considered on the contrary to be synonymous with the alienation of women. The ban on wearing the headscarf is therefore seen as promoting equality between men and women. However, what, in fact, is the connection between the ban and sexual equality? The judgment does not say. Indeed, what is the signification of wearing the headscarf? As the German Constitutional Court noted in its judgment of 24 September 2003[6], wearing the headscarf has no single meaning; it is a practice that is engaged in for a variety of reasons. It does not necessarily symbolise the submission of women to men and there are those who maintain that, in certain cases, it can even be a means of emancipating women. What is lacking in this debate is the opinion of women, both those who wear the headscarf and those who choose not to.

12.  On this issue, the Grand Chamber refers in its judgment to Dahlab (cited above), taking up what to my mind is the most questionable part of the reasoning in that decision, namely that wearing the headscarf represents a “powerful external symbol”, which “appeared to be imposed on women by a religious precept that was hard to reconcile with the principle of gender equality” and that the practice could not easily be “reconciled with the message of tolerance, respect for others and, above all, equality and non-discrimination that all teachers in a democratic society should convey to their pupils” (see paragraph 111in fineof the judgment).

It is not the Courts role to make an appraisal of this type – in this instance a unilateral and negative one – of a religion or religious practice, just as it is not its role to determine in a general and abstract way the signification of wearing the headscarf or to impose its viewpoint on the applicant. The applicant, a young adult university student, said and there is nothing to suggest that she was not telling the truththat she wore the headscarf of her own free will. In this connection, I fail to see how the principle of sexual equality can justify prohibiting a woman from following a practice which, in the absence of proof to the contrary, she must be taken to have freely adopted. Equality and non-discrimination are subjective rights which must remain under the control of those who are entitled to benefit from them. “Paternalism” of this sort runs counter to the case-law of the Court, which has developed a real right to personal autonomy on the basis of Article 8 (see Keenan v. the United Kingdom, no. 27229/95, §92, ECHR 2001-III; Pretty v. the United Kingdom, no. 2346/02, §§65-67, ECHR 2002-III; and Christine Goodwin v. the United Kingdom [GC], no. 28957/95, §90, ECHR 2002-VI)[7]. Finally, if wearing the headscarf really was contrary to the principle of equality between men and women in any event, the State would have a positive obligation to prohibit it in all places, whether public or private[8].

13.  Since, to my mind, the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf on the university premises was not based on reasons that were relevant and sufficient, it cannot be considered to be interference that was “necessary in a democratic society” within the meaning of Article 9 § 2 of the Convention. In these circumstances, there has been a violation of the applicants right to freedom of religion, as guaranteed by the Convention.

B.  The right to education

14.  The majority having decided that the applicants complaint should also be examined under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, I entirely agree with the view, which had already been expressed by the Commission in itsreportof 24 June 1965 in the Case “relating to certain aspects of the laws on the use of languages in education in Belgium”, that that provision is applicable to higher and university education. The judgment rightly points out that “there is no watertight division separating higher education from other forms of education” and joins the Council of Europe in reiterating “the key role and importance of higher education in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the strengthening of democracy” (see paragraph 136 of the judgment). Moreover, since the right to education means a right for everyone to benefit from educational facilities, the Grand Chamber notes that a State which has set up highereducation institutions “will be under an obligation to afford an effective right of access to [such facilities]”, without discrimination (see paragraph 137 of the judgment).

15.  However, although the Grand Chamber stresses that in a democratic society the right to education is indispensable to the furtherance of human rights (see paragraph 137 of the judgment), it is surprising and regrettable for it then to proceed to deprive the applicant of that right for reasons which do not appear to me to be either relevant or sufficient. The applicant did not, on religious grounds, seek to be excused from certain activities or request changes to be made to the university course for which she had enrolled as a student (unlike the position in Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen v. Denmark, judgment of 7 December 1976, Series A no. 23). She simply wished to complete her studies in the conditions that had obtained when she first enrolled at the university and during the initial years of her university career, when she had been free to wear the headscarf without any problem. I consider that by refusing the applicant access to the lectures and examinations that were part of the course at the Faculty of Medicine, she was de facto deprived of the right of access to the university and, consequently, of her right to education.

16.  The Grand Chamber adopted “by analogy” its reasoning on the existence of interference under Article 9 of the Convention and found that an analysis by reference to the right to education “cannot in this instance be divorced from the conclusions reached by the Court with respect to Article 9”, as the considerations taken into account under that provision “are clearly applicable to the complaint under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1” (see paragraph 157 of the judgment). In these circumstances, I consider that the Chamber was undoubtedly right in its judgment of 30 November 2004 to hold that no “separate question” arose under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1, as the relevant circumstances and arguments were the same as those it had considered in relation to Article 9, in respect of which it found no violation.

Whatever the position, I am not entirely satisfied that the reasoning with regard to religious freedom “is clearly applicable” to the right to education. Admittedly, this latter right is not absolute and may be subject to limitations by implication, provided they do not curtail the right in question to such an extent as to impair its very essence and deprive it of its effectiveness. Nor may such restrictions conflict with other rights enshrined in the Convention, whose provisions must be considered as a whole. Further, the margin of appreciation is narrower for negative obligations and the Court must, in any event, determine in the last resort whether the Convention requirements have been complied with. Lastly, a limitation will only be consistent with the right to education if there is a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means employed and the aim pursued.

17.  What was the position in the instant case? I will not pursue here the debate concerning the right to freedom of religion, but will confine myself to highlighting the additional elements that concerned the proportionality of the limitations that were imposed on the applicants right to education.

I would begin by noting that before refusing the applicant access to lectures and examinations, the authorities should have used other means either to encourage her (through mediation, for example) to remove her headscarf and pursue her studies, or to ensure that public order was maintained on the university premises if it was genuinely at risk[9]. The fact of the matter is that no attempt was made to try measures that would have had a less drastic effect on the applicants right to education in the instant case. My second point is that it is common ground that by making the applicants pursuit of her studies conditional on removing the headscarf and by refusing her access to the university if she failed to comply with this requirement, the authorities forced the applicant to leave the country and complete her studies at ViennaUniversity. She was thus left with no alternative. However, in Chaare Shalom Ve Tsedek (cited above, §§ 80 and 81) the existence of alternative solutions was one of the factors the Court took into account in holding that there had been no violation of the Convention. Lastly, the Grand Chamber does not weigh up the competing interests, namely, on the one hand, the damage sustained by the applicant – who was deprived of any possibility of completing her studies in Turkey because of her religious convictions and also maintained that it was unlikely that she would be able to return to her country to practise her profession owing to the difficulties that existed there in obtaining recognition for foreign diplomas – and, on the other, the benefit to be gained by Turkish society from prohibiting the applicant from wearing the headscarf on the university premises.

In these circumstances, it can reasonably be argued that the applicants exclusion from lectures and examinations and, consequently, from the university itself, rendered her right to education ineffective and, therefore, impaired the very essence of that right.

18.  The question also arises whether such an infringement of the right to education does not, ultimately, amount to an implicit acceptance of discrimination against the applicant on grounds of religion. In its Resolution 1464(2005) of 4 October 2005, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reminded the member States that it was important to fully protect all women living in their country against violations of their rights based on or attributed to religion”.

19.  More fundamentally, by accepting the applicants exclusion from the university in the name of secularism and equality, the majority have accepted her exclusion from precisely the type of liberated environment in which the true meaning of these values can take shape and develop. University affords practical access to knowledge that is free and independent of all authority. Experience of this kind is far more effective a means of raising awareness of the principles of secularism and equality than an obligation that is not assumed voluntarily, but imposed. A tolerance-based dialogue between religions and cultures is an education in itself, so it is ironic that young women should be deprived of that education on account of the headscarf. Advocating freedom and equality for women cannot mean depriving them of the chance to decide on their future. Bans and exclusions echo that very fundamentalism these measures are intended to combat. Here, as elsewhere, the risks are familiar: radicalisation of beliefs, silent exclusion, a return to religious schools. When rejected by the law of the land, young women are forced to take refuge in their own law. As we are all aware, intolerance breeds intolerance.

20.  I end by noting that all these issues must also be considered in the light of the observations set out in the annual activity report published in June 2005 of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), which expresses concern about the climate of hostility existing against persons who are or are believed to be Muslim and considers thatthe situation requires attention and action in the future[10]. Above all, the message that needsto be repeated over and over again is that the best means of preventing and combating fanaticism and extremism is to uphold human rights.


[1].  See S. Van Drooghenbroeck, La proportionnalité dans le droit de la Convention européenne des Droits de l’Homme. Prendre l’idée simple au sérieux, Brussels, Bruylant, 2001.

[2].  See E. Brems, The approach of the European Court of Human Rights to religion, in Th. Marauhn (ed.), Die Rechtsstellung des Menschen im Völkerrecht. Entwicklungen und Perspektiven, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2003, pp. 1 et seq.

[3].  See E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, Le voile à l’école : une Europe divisée, Revuetrimestrielle des droits de l’homme, 2004, p. 958.

[4].  See S. Van Drooghenbroeck, “Strasbourg et le voile, Journal du juriste, 2004, no. 34, p. 10.

[5].  See E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, Le voile à l’école : une Europe divisée, op. cit., p. 960.

[6].  Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, judgment of the Second Division of 24 September 2003, 2BvR 1436/042.

[7].  See S. Van Drooghenbroeck, Strasbourg et le voile, op. cit.

[8].  See E. Bribosia and I. Rorive, Le voile à l’école : une Europe divisée, op. cit., p. 962.

[9].  See O. DeSchutter and J. Ringelheim, La renonciation aux droits fondamentaux. La libre disposition du soi et le règne de l’échange, CRIDHO Working paper series1/2005.

[10].  European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Annual report on ECRI’s activities covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004, doc.CRI (2005)36, Strasbourg, June 2005.

 

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Član 8 | DIC | Damnjanović protiv Srbije
Presuda je povezana sa presudom Vrhovnog kasacionog suda Rev 2999/1999 od 4.9.2019. godine, kojom se odbija kao nesosnovana revizija tužilje-protivtužene, izjevljena protiv presude Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine.

Prema utvrđenom činjeničnom stanju, tužilјa i tuženi su zaklјučili brak 06.05.2012. godine iz kog braka imaju maloletnog sina. Živeli su u kući u zajednici sa majkom i babom tuženog. Do prestanka bračne zajednice došlo je 04.09.2017. godine, kada je tužilјa napustila bračnu zajednicu. Bračni odnosi su ozbilјno i trajno poremećeni, nema izgleda da se bračna zajednica nastavi. Tužilјa, kada je napustila bračnu zajednicu prijavila je policiji tuženog za nasilјe u porodici. Navela je da je poslednje dve godine u braku bila u svađi sa tuženim, stalno su se raspravlјali, a tuženi je držao za ruke i drmao zbog čega su joj ostajale modrice, kao i da je dete često prisustvovalo ovim svađama. Po napuštanju zajednice otišla je da živi kod svojih roditelјa. Navodi tužilјe u pogledu vršenja nasilјa u porodici nisu ničim bili potkreplјeni. Presudom Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018. godine u stavu prvom izreke, brak zaklјučen dana 06.05.2014. je razveden na osnovu člana 41. Porodičnog zakona. U stavu drugom izreke, usvojen je tužbeni zahtev tuženog-protivtužioca pa je zajedničko maloletno dete stranaka sin poveren ocu koji će samostalno vršiti roditelјsko pravo. Obavezana je tužena-protivtužilјa da na ime svog doprinosa u izdržavanju deteta plaća mesečno određeni novčani iznos. Presudom je uređen je način održavanja ličnih odnosa detat sa majkom. Presudom Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine, odbijena je kao neosnovana žalba tužilјe-protivtužene i potvrđena presuda Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018.


Ceneći navode revizije, Vrhovni kasacioni sud nalazi da su nižestepeni sudovi na potpuno utvrđeno činjenično stanje, pravilno primenili materijalno pravo, a pri čemu su se shodno citiranim propisima prevashodno rukovodili interesima maloletnog deteta, pravilno ocenjujući da je u interesu deteta da za sada ostane u domaćinstvu kod oca, tj. da se vršenje roditelјskog prava nad maloletnim poveri njegovom ocu a da majka ima pravo viđanja sa detetom, budući da je otac ostvario bolju emocionalnu povezanost sa detetom.

Presuda je dostupna u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 8 | DIC | Gardel protiv Francuske
Presuda je povezana sa rešenjem Gž 3189/19 od 22.08.2019. godine Apelacionog suda u Beogradu, kojom se odbija kao neosnovana žalba tužioca i potvrđuje rešenje Višeg suda u Beogradu P.br. 11293/18 od 11.12.2018. godine u parnici tužioca AA protiv tužene Republike Srbije radi kršenja lјudskih prava jer je tužena svojim dopisom dostavile lične podatke tužioca i njegove porodice Komisiji Federacije BiH.

Rešenje je dostupno u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde

Član 8 | DIC | Jurišić protiv Hrvatske
Presuda je povezana sa rešenjem Ržg 2/16 od 17.06.2016. godine Apelacionog suda u Novom Sadu, kojim se žalba predlagača izjavlјena protiv rešenja Višeg suda u Somboru posl. br.R4p.2/16 od 26.5.2016. godine se odbacuje kao neblagovremena.

Pobijanim prvostepenim rešenjem odbijen je prigovor predlagača B.Đ. kojim je tražio da se utvrdi da mu je u postupku koji se vodi pred Višim sudom u Somboru pod posl. brojem P.32/2014 povređeno pravo na suđenje u razumnom roku. Protiv ovog rešenja predlagač je izjavio žalbu u kojoj predlaže da Apelacioni sud naloži Višem sudu u Somboru postupanje po tužbi ovde predlagača u nepresuđenom delu kojim je tražena naknada materijalne štete, iz razloga što je predlagač starija i bolesna osoba pa je neophodna posebna hitnost u postupanju.

Rešenje je dostupno u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 8 | DIC | Kostić protiv Srbije
Odluka Ustavnog suda Republike Srbije\r\nhttps://ustavni.sud.rs/sudska-praksa/baza-sudske-prakse/pregled-dokumenta?PredmetId=16038\r\nkojom se usvaja ustavna žalba D.K. i utvrđuje da su u izvršnom postupku pred osnovnim sudom povređena prava roditelja i pravo na suđenje u razumnom roku
Član 8 | DIC | Milovanović protiv Srbije
Presuda je povezana sa presudom Vrhovnog kasacionog suda Rev 2999/1999 od 4.9.2019. godine, kojom se odbija kao nesosnovana revizija tužilje-protivtužene, izjevljena protiv presude Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine.

Prema utvrđenom činjeničnom stanju, tužilјa i tuženi su zaklјučili brak 06.05.2012. godine iz kog braka imaju maloletnog sina. Živeli su u kući u zajednici sa majkom i babom tuženog. Do prestanka bračne zajednice došlo je 04.09.2017. godine, kada je tužilјa napustila bračnu zajednicu. Bračni odnosi su ozbilјno i trajno poremećeni, nema izgleda da se bračna zajednica nastavi. Tužilјa, kada je napustila bračnu zajednicu prijavila je policiji tuženog za nasilјe u porodici. Navela je da je poslednje dve godine u braku bila u svađi sa tuženim, stalno su se raspravlјali, a tuženi je držao za ruke i drmao zbog čega su joj ostajale modrice, kao i da je dete često prisustvovalo ovim svađama. Po napuštanju zajednice otišla je da živi kod svojih roditelјa. Navodi tužilјe u pogledu vršenja nasilјa u porodici nisu ničim bili potkreplјeni. Presudom Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018. godine u stavu prvom izreke, brak zaklјučen dana 06.05.2014. je razveden na osnovu člana 41. Porodičnog zakona. U stavu drugom izreke, usvojen je tužbeni zahtev tuženog-protivtužioca pa je zajedničko maloletno dete stranaka sin poveren ocu koji će samostalno vršiti roditelјsko pravo. Obavezana je tužena-protivtužilјa da na ime svog doprinosa u izdržavanju deteta plaća mesečno određeni novčani iznos. Presudom je uređen je način održavanja ličnih odnosa detat sa majkom. Presudom Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine, odbijena je kao neosnovana žalba tužilјe-protivtužene i potvrđena presuda Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018.


Ceneći navode revizije, Vrhovni kasacioni sud nalazi da su nižestepeni sudovi na potpuno utvrđeno činjenično stanje, pravilno primenili materijalno pravo, a pri čemu su se shodno citiranim propisima prevashodno rukovodili interesima maloletnog deteta, pravilno ocenjujući da je u interesu deteta da za sada ostane u domaćinstvu kod oca, tj. da se vršenje roditelјskog prava nad maloletnim poveri njegovom ocu a da majka ima pravo viđanja sa detetom, budući da je otac ostvario bolju emocionalnu povezanost sa detetom.

Presuda je dostupna u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 8 | DIC | Tomić protiv Srbije
Presuda je povezana sa presudom Vrhovnog kasacionog suda Rev 2999/1999 od 4.9.2019. godine, kojom se odbija kao nesosnovana revizija tužilje-protivtužene, izjevljena protiv presude Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine.

Prema utvrđenom činjeničnom stanju, tužilјa i tuženi su zaklјučili brak 06.05.2012. godine iz kog braka imaju maloletnog sina. Živeli su u kući u zajednici sa majkom i babom tuženog. Do prestanka bračne zajednice došlo je 04.09.2017. godine, kada je tužilјa napustila bračnu zajednicu. Bračni odnosi su ozbilјno i trajno poremećeni, nema izgleda da se bračna zajednica nastavi. Tužilјa, kada je napustila bračnu zajednicu prijavila je policiji tuženog za nasilјe u porodici. Navela je da je poslednje dve godine u braku bila u svađi sa tuženim, stalno su se raspravlјali, a tuženi je držao za ruke i drmao zbog čega su joj ostajale modrice, kao i da je dete često prisustvovalo ovim svađama. Po napuštanju zajednice otišla je da živi kod svojih roditelјa. Navodi tužilјe u pogledu vršenja nasilјa u porodici nisu ničim bili potkreplјeni. Presudom Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018. godine u stavu prvom izreke, brak zaklјučen dana 06.05.2014. je razveden na osnovu člana 41. Porodičnog zakona. U stavu drugom izreke, usvojen je tužbeni zahtev tuženog-protivtužioca pa je zajedničko maloletno dete stranaka sin poveren ocu koji će samostalno vršiti roditelјsko pravo. Obavezana je tužena-protivtužilјa da na ime svog doprinosa u izdržavanju deteta plaća mesečno određeni novčani iznos. Presudom je uređen je način održavanja ličnih odnosa detat sa majkom. Presudom Apelacionog suda u Kragujevcu Gž2 119/19 od 04.04.2019. godine, odbijena je kao neosnovana žalba tužilјe-protivtužene i potvrđena presuda Osnovnog suda u Jagodini P2 411/17 od 24.12.2018.


Ceneći navode revizije, Vrhovni kasacioni sud nalazi da su nižestepeni sudovi na potpuno utvrđeno činjenično stanje, pravilno primenili materijalno pravo, a pri čemu su se shodno citiranim propisima prevashodno rukovodili interesima maloletnog deteta, pravilno ocenjujući da je u interesu deteta da za sada ostane u domaćinstvu kod oca, tj. da se vršenje roditelјskog prava nad maloletnim poveri njegovom ocu a da majka ima pravo viđanja sa detetom, budući da je otac ostvario bolju emocionalnu povezanost sa detetom.

Presuda je dostupna u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 10 | DIC | Medžlis Islamske Zajednice Brčko i drugi protiv Bosne i Hercegovine
Predmet prosledjen Velikom veću. Odluka doneta 2017. godine