Crucifix ruling to be revised

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday agreed to hear Italy's appeal on a controversial ruling given last year banning crucifixes in state-run schools.

A panel of five judges at the Strasbourg-based court yesterday said it took note of an appeal filed by the Italian government last January and the court's Grand Chamber "definitively" will rule on the matter.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini promptly expressed satisfaction that the Court had accepted Italy's arguments for an appeal.

"I would like to underline that the Court has accepted our numerous and articulate motives, which Italy presented to the Court," Mr Frattini said.

Last November, the court, which has nothing to do with the EU, ruled in favour of an Italian mother who complained that crucifixes were a religious symbol that did not belong in state-run classrooms because that would violate the way in which she wanted to raise her two children.

The Italian government, backed by the Vatican, defended the presence of crucifixes in public schools as a traditional symbol that extended beyond the country's Christian roots.

While Catholicism is the dominant faith in Italy, the 1948 constitution specifies that there is no state religion.

Following the Strasbourg-court's decision, the European Commission defended its member states' right to keep deciding freely on such issues, adding that according to EU rules issues related to culture and religion were up to member states to decide.

A Commission spokesman had explained that the ruling had no effect on Malta as the Court did not form part of EU institutions. "The EU has nothing to do with this ruling of the Court of Human Rights and we respect the liberty of every member state to decide on these issues," the spokesman said.

The Court decision had sparked a controversy in Malta with many opining against the decision.