Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Religious Rules, State Law, and Normative Pluralism - A Comparative Overview pp 153–166Cite as

Accommodation of Religious Rules in Estonian Law and Practice

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 18))

Abstract

The article explores the extent of application of religious rules according to the law in Estonia. It is argued that religious rules are applied both de jure and de facto in Estonia, for example, within contractual freedom between parties, in the framework of exemptions from generally applicable laws and autonomy of religious communities. There is a certain amount of individual and collective freedom to choose to live life according to one’s conscience and religious rules.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    RT 1992, 26, 349. “Riigi Teataja” (RT) stands for State Gazette. Most Estonian laws are also available in English at the official site of the Riigi Teataja, accessed June 3, 2015, https://www.riigiteataja.ee

  2. 2.

    Estonian Constitution does not expressis verbis mention autonomy or self-determination of religious communities akin to German Basic Law. However, the general right to self-determination of persons (both individuals and groups) stems from Article 19 of the Estonian Constitution. The right to religious autonomy is also considered to be an essential part of collective freedom of religion enshrined in Article 40 of the Constitution. RTL 2001, 82, 1120.

  3. 3.

    RT I, 16.10.2014, 1. The law will enter into force on 1 January 2016.

  4. 4.

    Estonian Penal Code has been going through a major review. There was a proposal to extend the scope of the hate crime provision. In response, religious organisations expressed their concerns about the future of religious speech especially regarding possible restrictions on voicing what doctrine says about same sex unions. The proposal was disregarded in the amendment process. Currently, incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination on account of race, religion, nationality or sexual orientation, political ideas or economical or social status is forbidden by §151 of the Penal Code only if the incitement has caused risk to person’s life, health or property. RT I 2001, 61, 364.

  5. 5.

    Population and Housing Census 2011 – ‘Usk’, accessed July 1, 2014, http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/Database/Rahvaloendus/REL2011/07Rahvastiku_demograafilised_ja_etno_kultuurilised_naitajad/09Usk/09Usk.asp.

  6. 6.

    Ibid.

  7. 7.

    Ibid.

  8. 8.

    “Uuring: eestlased usuvad vaimsesse enesearengusse ja maavälisesse ellu”, accessed January 29, 2014, http://www.ut.ee/et/uudised/uuring-eestlased-usuvad-vaimsesse-enesearengusse-maavalisesse-ellu.

  9. 9.

    Estonia became part of Russian Empire in 1710/1721 as a result the Great Northern War defeating Swedish rule on Estonian territory. A more detailed overview of Estonian law and religion in Estonia is presented in Merilin Kiviorg, Law and Religion in Estonia (The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International BV, 2011).

  10. 10.

    RT 1920, 113/114, 243.

  11. 11.

    RT 1925, 183/184, 96.

  12. 12.

    RT I 1993, 30, 510.

  13. 13.

    RT I 2002, 24, 135.

  14. 14.

    For a comprehensive overview of law and religion in Estonia see Merilin Kiviorg, Law and Religion in Estonia.

  15. 15.

    On 11 March 2003 the Estonian government approved a programme/policy paper “Pühakodade säilitamine ja areng” (Preservation and Development of Sacred Buildings). Although not a law, the paper provides a basis for several legislative and financial actions to support development of churches over the period from 2004 to 2013 (the programme has been renewed and revised for 2013–2018). “Programm ‘Pühakodade säilitamine ja areng’ 2013–2018”, kinnitatud kultuuriministri käskirjaga nr. 371, 28.11.2013 (Tallinn: Kultuuriministeerium, 2013).

  16. 16.

    RT 1934, 107, 840.

  17. 17.

    RT I 2008, 56, 315.

  18. 18.

    Ibid.

  19. 19.

    Council Directive (EC) 2000/78 on Employment Equality [2000] OJ L 195/16; Council Directive (EC) 2000/43/on Racial Equality [2000] OJ L 180/22.

  20. 20.

    “EELK praost nõuab võrdõiguslikkuse voliniku ametist lahkumist”, Delfi, 07 November 2011.

  21. 21.

    “EELK selgitas soovolinikule, miks tagandati üks vaimulik ametist”, Meie Kirik, 11 October 2011.

  22. 22.

    RT I 2004, 27, 181.

  23. 23.

    On 7 November 2013 there were 135 persons with the right to conduct religious marriages with civil validity. The information is obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, accessed March 31, 2015, http://www.siseministeerium.ee.

  24. 24.

    RT I 2002, 35, 217.

  25. 25.

    Thlimmenos v. Greece (App no 34369/97) (2001) 31 EHRR 411; DH and Others v the Czech Republic (App no 57325/00) (2008) 47 EHRR 16.

  26. 26.

    RT I 2009, 5, 35.

  27. 27.

    Ewaida and others v. UK (App. no. 48420/10; 59842/10; 51671/10; 36516/10).

  28. 28.

    RT I 1999, 25, 365.

  29. 29.

    RT I 2009, 27, 166.

  30. 30.

    Article 15 of the Estonian Constitution.

  31. 31.

    Estonia became a member of the Council of Europe on 14 May 1993. The same day Estonia signed the European Convention for Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (ECHR). The Estonian Parliament ratified the ECHR on 13 March 1996.2 The letters of ratification were deposited on 16 April 1996. The Convention became legally binding for Estonia from that date.

References

  • Albi, K., et al. 2010. Soolise võrdõiguslikkuse seadus, Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Tallinn: Juura.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eesti Vabariigi Põhiseadus. 2012. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Tallinn: Juura.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiviorg, M. 2011. Law and religion in Estonia. Netherlands: Kluwer Law International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narits, Raul. 2009. About the principles of the constitution of the Republic of Estonia from the perspective of independent statehood in Estonia. Juridica International XVI: 56–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. 2011. Tolerance. In Society at a glance 2011: OECD social indicators, OECD Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/soc_glance-2011-30-en. Accessed 1 June 2015.

  • Reingelheim, J. 2008. Minority protection and constitutional recognition of difference. In The framework convention for the protection of national minorities: A useful Pan-European instrument, ed. Annalies Verstichel Bruno De Witte, Paul Lemmens, and André Alen, 33–49. Antwerp: Intersentia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringvee, R. 2013. Estonia. In Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, vol. 5, ed. J.S. Nielsen et al., 229–236. Leiden: Brill.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Law, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Merilin Kiviorg

Authors
  1. Merilin Kiviorg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merilin Kiviorg .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facoltà di Scienze Politiche e Sociali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

    Rossella Bottoni

  2. Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Rinaldo Cristofori

  3. Università degli studi di Milano , Milan, Italy

    Silvio Ferrari

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kiviorg, M. (2016). Accommodation of Religious Rules in Estonian Law and Practice. In: Bottoni, R., Cristofori, R., Ferrari, S. (eds) Religious Rules, State Law, and Normative Pluralism - A Comparative Overview. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28335-7_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28335-7_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28333-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28335-7

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation