Restriction Criteria for the Freedom of Assembly in the Procedure of the European Court of Human Rights

AbstractThe right to freedom of assembly has been emphasized in international instruments as a human right. Findings of international human rights tribunals have complemented the international Instruments as judicial procedure. No international human rights tribunal on a global scale has been established among the international tribunals. However, among the international tribunals on a regional scale, some courts have established procedures on freedom of assembly. This article through a descriptive-analytical method seeks to examine restriction criteria for the freedom of assembly in the procedure of European Court of Human Rights. The research hypothesis in the article is that the European Court of Human Rights has accepted the minimum restrictions on freedom of assembly by states by meeting criteria higher than those set out in Article 11 of the Convention. The article after elaborating the judicial Procedure of this Court concludes that: First, national security considerations in exceptional circumstances can restrict freedom of assembly; Second, the freedom of assembly has priority over reasonable violation of public order; Third, the freedom of assembly should not restrict the rights and freedoms of other civilians (except as normal); Forth, states should tolerate organizers of associations.