

On February 10, 2025, “Judicial Dialogue on Animal Welfare and Freedom of Religion in Europe,” authored by Professor Yumiko Nakanishi (Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University), was published in Jichikenkyu (Vol. 101, No. 2). In the EU, as public awareness of animal protection and welfare grows, there has been an increase in cases where freedom of religion conflicts with these concerns. This paper examines cases handled by the Belgian Constitutional Court, the EU Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights. Professor Nakanishi notes that the three courts conducted a multi-layered review of fundamental rights protection, resulting in consistent and homogeneous rulings. The professor argues that this indicates a set of criteria for judgment has been established regarding the issue of animal protection and religious freedom in Europe, and that there is a cooperative relationship between the courts.