European Court of Human Rights

THE FACTS

Whereas the facts as presented by the Applicant may be summarised as
follows:

The Applicant is an Icelandic citizen, born in 1919 and at present
living in Reykjavik.

He states that, in accordance with the custom in Iceland, he was
baptised when he was only a few weeks old. This implied, in his
submission, that the clergyman, the witnesses and his parents concluded
on his behalf "a baptismal covenant with Jehovah in Heaven". Later, he
was also confirmed and on that occasion he had to confess his belief
in Jehovah.

He states that he is no longer prepared to "abide by the baptismal
covenant" forced upon him as a child and he has, therefore, tried to
have his baptism annulled.

For this purpose, he instituted proceedings against the Bishop of
Iceland before the Town Court of Reykjavik, but his claim was dismissed
by the Court. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Supreme
Court. He states that, according to Articles 9 and 10 of the
Convention, he has the right to profess his "own beliefs, convictions
and thoughts" and he asks for "a binding decision that my baptism and
confirmation are annulled, making it clear that this be a full
cancellation of the promise I was forced to make at my baptism and
subsequent confirmation".

As his appeals to the Icelandic courts have been unsuccessful he also
considers that he has not had an effective remedy according to Article
13 of the Convention.

THE LAW

Whereas an examination of the case as it has been submitted, including
an examination made ex officio, does not disclose any appearance of a
violation of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention and
in particular in Articles 9, 10 and 13; whereas it follows that the
Application is manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27,
paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention.

Now therefore the Commission declares this Application INADMISSIBLE.