Lithuania loses another Jehovah’s Witness case of conscientious objection in Strasbourg
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Lithuania violated the religious freedom of a Jehovah’s Witness minister by denying him access to civilian service as an alternative to mandatory military service due to his conscientious objection. This ruling marks Lithuania’s second loss in a similar case. The European Court emphasized the importance of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as a cornerstone of democratic society. Following this ruling, a Lithuanian official called for reforms to better accommodate individuals’ beliefs through alternative service options.
