Christian Midwife Told She Had to Perform Abortions Appeals Case
- Updated Apr 27, 2017
A Christian midwife is appealing her case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after she was denied employment opportunities due to her views regarding abortion.
Ellinor Grimmark of Sweden is being backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom and is arguing that various places of employment infringed on her freedom of conscience in their refusal to hire her due to her views on abortion.
In November 2013, a job offer Grimmark received from a women’s clinic was withdrawn after it became known that she opposed abortion. A similar scenario occurred in 2014.
Grimmark took her case to court in 2015, but the District Court of Jönköping ruled that freedom of conscience could only be invoked when a person is not religious.
Now, with the help of legal counsel, Grimmark is appealing that decision.
According to The Christian Institute, Grimmark’s legal team believes her case could be a landmark one and could set a “huge precedent for freedom of conscience.”
“People should not be punished for making decisions in line with their conscience,” said Robert Clark, director of European Advocacy.
Clark added that ADF “will stand with her until her right to freedom of conscience is properly protected, in accordance with both Swedish and international law.”
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/Kagenmi
Publication date: April 27, 2017
