European Court Confirms Ethical Veganism Is a Protected Philosophical Belief

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland violated the rights of two vegans by failing to provide adequate vegan meals in detention. This landmark decision confirms that ethical veganism and anti-speciesism are protected philosophical beliefs under Article 9, reinforcing the right to freedom of thought and conscience across Europe.

"Faced with the applicants' consistent and genuine vegan beliefs and their requests for a vegan diet while deprived of liberty, the authorities were under a positive obligation stemming from Article 9 to address those requests in substance."